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Class 

Book_- 

GopyiightN — — 

COPYRIOHT DEPOSIT. 




KEV. A. IK MIX 



Triple Life of the Aged 



BY 

Rev. A, Houtz, A. M., 

orangeville, penn'a. 

Author of "Hold the Fort," "The Pastorate 

of Rev. A. Houtz," "Ties That Bind" and 

"The Master's Call to Service." 



REFORMED CHURCH PUBLICATION BOARD 
1911 



VK 



^ 






COPYRIGHTED. 1911. by REV. A. HOUTZ 



V 



. 



CONTENTS 

The Triple Life of the A£ed 

Chapter I. The Aged 9 

Part First 

The Aged Live in the Past hy Memory 

II. Local Scenes 19 

III. The Domestic Scenes. 25 

" IV. Industrial Scenes 31 

V. Transportation, U.S. Mail and Money, 

Social Enjoyments and Crime 39 

VI. Political Scenes 46 

VII. The Schools and the Churches 51 

" VIII. The Memory of the Past is Attended 

with Joy and Sorrow 58 

Part Second 

The Aged Live in the Present by Experience 

IX. The Aged See Many Local Changes 69 

X. The Physical Change in Himself 78 

" XL Old Age the Period of Loneliness and 

Suffering 88 

XII. Old Age is the Period of Solicitude 97 

" XIII. The Aged Christian Should Exercise 

Faith, Patience and Resignation 105 

XIV. Old Age Should be a Season of 

Gratitude. 113 

" XV. Social Duties enjoined upon the Aged 120 

" XVI. His Coming to the Jordan 130 

Part Third 

The Aged Live in the Future by Faith and Hope 

" XVII. Faith in the Immortality of the Soul 147 

" XVIII. Our Visions and Foretaste of Heaven 159 

" XIX. Longings for the Heavenly Home 169 

" XX. The Crossing of the Jordan 182 

" XXI. The Body and Soul at Rest 197 



Introduction 

Much has been written in the interest of childhood, 
youthhood and middle age, but little comparatively has 
been written in the interest of old age. This period of life 
has been too much ignored by writers. Old age is looked 
upon with too much indifference and treated as a period of 
life which is practically blank, as the most passive and in- 
active period of human life. 

In this book the author endeavors to show that old 
age is an exceedingly interesting period of life, that the 
aged live a threefold life. He lives in the Past by mem- 
ory, in the Present by experience, and in the Future by 
faith and hope. He endeavors thus to interpret the mind 
and heart of the aged, and shows that their time is fully oc- 
cupied in the recollections of the past, in the experiences 
of the present, and in the hope and anticipated joys of the 
future. 

The author being now an aged man has written from 
experience and will accompany his aged readers in living 
over the past, in dealing with the present conditions of life, 
and in viewing from Mount Pisgah the Heavenly Canaan, 
their promised home and inheritance. A. H. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE AGED 

When Joseph brought his aged father 
down to Egypt and introduced him to 
Pharaoh, the latter asked him the ques- 
tion, " How old art thou?" Gen. 47:8. 
At that time Jacob was 130 years old, 
but lived to be 147 years old. This was 
a great age, but it was less than that of 
his ancestors. His father Isaac lived to 
be 180 years old, his grand-father, Abra- 
ham, lived to be 175 years old; and his 
great grand-father, Terah, lived to be 
205 years old. 

The usual period of human life seldom 
extends to more than three score and 
ten years; and if by reason of strength 
to four score years. Old age is promis- 
ed in the fifth commandment, "Honor 
thy father and thy mother that thy days 



10 TRIPLE LIFE OF THE AGED 

may be long upon the land which the 
Lord thy God giveth thee. Of old age 
it is said, "The hoary head is a crown 
of glory, if it be found in the way of right- 
eousness." Job 16:31. Old age is a per- 
iod of life which only a few attain. It is 
estimated that on an average only one 
in twenty reach three score and ten 
years. It is supposed that one-fourth die 
in childhood, and one-half die before 
they reach thirty-five years of age. 
Many die between the age of thirty-five 
and that of sixty ; and very rarely do we 
hear of one living beyond eighty or 
ninety. 

Before the Flood many lived from 
seven hundred to eight hundred years. 
Methusalah lived to the great age of nine 
hundred and sixty-nine. In Abraham's 
time the age limit was one hundred and 
seventy-five years, and in the time of 
Moses it was reduced to seventy or eighty 
years. While this seems to be an age 
that is attainable, very few reach it. Hu- 



THE AGED II 

man life is attended with many dangers, 
seen and unseen. The poet has truth- 
fully said : 

" Dangers stand thick through all the ground 
to push us to the tomb, 

And fierce diseases wait around, to hurry 
mortals home." 

Many like the May flowers live only a 
few days and then fade and die. Many 
are cut down in the prime of life. While 
here and there we see a man or woman 
ladened with years. 

We have often seen men who were 
young at sixty; and have pitied others 
who were old at forty. 

Some look aged early on account of 
labor, sorrow, affliction and constitution- 
al weakness; others become old early by 
dissipation and sin; the wicked often do 
not live out half their time. 

The mere continuation of life is mar- 
velous. How mysteriously is life sustain- 
ed! Think of the pulsations of the heart, 
the inspiration and respiration of the 



12 TRIPLE LIFE OF THE AGED 

lungs. How many vessels must be act- 
ive so that the machine may not stand 
still. Well has Watts said: 

"Our life contains a thousand springs 
And dies if one be gone, 
Strange that a harp of a thousand strings, 
Should keep in tune so long." 
Is it not marvelous that life is main- 
tained so long amid the many dangers 
to which we are exposed. 

It is said that centuries are necessary 

for the oaks growth. At last, loaded 

with years, it withers, is born down to 

the earth and passes away. Should we 

wonder that man who is as grass and as 

the flower of the field, should in a few 

years wither away and die? It is true 

some aged people are permitted to see 

their grand children, and even their 

great-grand children, but they are few. 

In Deut. 34:7 we read: "Moses was 

a hundred and twenty years old when 

he died; his eye was not dim, nor his 

natural force abated." And yet this 



THE AGED 13 

same Moses said, "The days of our years 
are threescore years and ten; and if by 
reason of strength they be fourscore 
years, yet is their strength labor and sor- 
row ; for it is soon cut off, and we fly 
away. " Ps. 90:10. Howtruethe poem: 
My days, my weeks, my months, my years, 
Fly rapid as the whirling spheres ; 
The grave is near the cradle scene, 
How swift the moments pass between. " 
Life is as a tale that is told, and is as 
a dream. Truly one generation after 
another passes away. In the grave-yards 
of England they bury the dead upon one 
another. And in America the White 
man's plow turns the Red man's ashes. 
Ask the aged what he thinks of life, and 
he will say that it is a vapor, a shadow, 
a passing cloud. 

Aged people are sometimes compared 
to the few lonely oaks that are scattered 
here and there over the farm, and are 
the remnants of a great forest. They 
survived the tempests to which they had 



14 TRIPLE LIFE OF THE AGED 

been exposed, and were spared from the 
woodman. These few great oaks have 
weathered the storms of centuries ; and 
if they could speak would tell many a 
thrilling story of tempest and cyclone. 
They would tell us how their silvan com- 
panions one after another succumbed to 
tempest and decay, or were cruelly felled 
by the woodman's ax. They would thus 
tell why they stand alone in solitary 
places. 

So it is with the aged man. Early in 
life he was surrounded with many com- 
panions. He associated with them and 
enjoyed their company. But now they 
are gone, and he spends his days in soli- 
tude. 

It is true he is still surrounded by the 
living, the young and the middle aged. 
But even these are of another genera- 
tion, they belong to the new incoming 
one. The generation to which he be- 
longed has passed away, and the present 
one is a new generation to him. He 



THE AGED 15 

feels that the early companions of his life 
have disappeared, and that he himself is 
like the oak that stands alone in the 
field. 

Have you ever wondered how aged 
people pass their time? What are their 
thoughts, feelings and aspirations? We 
shall endeavor to assist you to better un- 
derstand them, and show in what respect 
they live a triple life. 

Mankind has lived in the Past. He 
now lives in the Present, and will live in 
the future. We shall not only live in 
the future, but we shall also live in an- 
other world quite different from the pres- 
ent one. So the aged through their 
memory live in the Past, by experience 
they live in the Present, and by faith 
and hope they live in the Future. We 
shall endeavor to show how the aged 
pass their time in their apparent loneli- 
ness, what thoughts occupy their minds, 
and what feelings thrill their souls. We 
hope to assist you to better understand 



16 TRIPLE LIFE OF THE AGED 

the aged ones for whom you must per- 
haps care and to whom you must minis- 
ter. 



The Aged Live in the Past 
Part First 



CHAPTER II. 

LOCAL SCENES 

Old age is the time of peculiar mem- 
ories. Indeed it is the age of memory. 
The aged are naturally inclined to call 
to mind the events of the past. They 
seem to live over the past in their mem- 
ory. They often speak of the changes 
that have taken place during their past 
life. 

How different are the features of the 
country now from what they were in 
their childhood days. They remember 
the time when a large part of the locality 
in which they now live was a forest. 
Great outstretching oaks and towering 
pines were seen in every direction. 
The land had to be cleared for agricul- 
tural purposes. First the trees were 
felled and then the trunks cut into con- 



20 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

venient lengths to handle. The logs were 
then rolled on great piles and burned. 

Later on the brush and surface roots 
were grubbed out, and put on piles and 
burned. Now the new ground was ready 
for the crude shovel plow. This was usu- 
ally drawn by two horses or a yoke of 
slow but surefooted oxen. The seed was 
then sown broadcast upon the virgin soil. 

The work of clearing the new ground 
was hard and dirty as the men were ob- 
liged to handle much charred wood. If 
we now had the fine timber that was thus 
destroyed in those pioneer days we might 
consider ourselves well off. In some 
localities where the land was covered 
with stones, it was necessary to pick 
them up and haul them off the field. 
They were either put on large piles or 
were used in building stone fences. 

Wild game was abundant. The rab- 
bit, squirrel, quail and pheasant were 
plentiful. Even the deer and bear were 



LOCAL SCENES 21 

not rare. When the writer of this book 
was a little boy, early on a Christmas 
morning after a snow had fallen, he saw 
a large wild buck running through Lower 
Market Street of his native town, Milton 
Pa. The deer was closely pursued by a 
pack of hounds which had driven it 
from its mountain home. Many flocks 
of wild pigeons were seen every spring 
and fall. Pigeon catching was a great 
sport, and many a pigeon potpie was 
served in those days. The streams 
abounded with fish. The smaller streams 
teemed with chubs, sunfish, catfish, eels, 
pike and trout, and some rivers contain- 
ed salmon and shad. Before the dams 
were put in the Susquehanna River, 
shad came up the North Branch of this 
river as far as Espy where a shad fishery 
was located. To this town people came 
a distance of several miles with their 
wagons for a supply of shad. 

Hunting and fishing in those days 
were attended with success. They usu- 



22 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

ally fished with hook and line, gig, out- 
line, hoop-net and seine. Then there 
was no law that forbid taking certain 
kinds of fish or game at certain seasons. 
You could fish and hunt with any thing 
and catch any thing, no one daring to 
molest or make afraid. 

The hunting spirit of that age is illus- 
trated by an incident that occurred at 
Sinnamahoning, Pa., when that town was 
a lumber camp. A number of lumber- 
men with their families lived in the vil- 
lage. As they were destitute of Church 
privileges, the Lutheran brethren thought 
it would be a good place to establish a 
home mission. Accordingly a minister 
properly equipped was sent there. As 
he wore a high silk hat and was dressed 
in a suit of black broadcloth the people 
who were not accustomed to such a sight 
gazed upon him in amazement. He 
called upon the different homes and told 
the people who he was, and invited them 
to come to the sawmill on Sunday morn- 



LOCAL SCENES 23 

ing where he would preach for them. 
A number of men, women and children 
were present. Some of the men brought 
their guns and hounds with them as they 
expected to have a deer hunt after 
preaching was over. Seats were made 
out of the newly sawed lumber and the 
services began. The men sat with their 
hats on, and a number smoked their 
pipes and laughed and talked to each 
other during the preaching. The min- 
ister felt very much depressed at the 
conduct of his audience. Finally some 
one exclaimed, "There goes a deer ! " 
The men bent on hunting, took their 
guns and dogs and went in pursuit of 
the deer. The yelling of hounds and 
the shouting of the men were distracting. 
The congregation was almost broken up 
and the minister was very much dis- 
couraged, and in a moment of despair 
said, " It is all in vain ! " He felt that 
there was no use in preaching to such a 
distracted audience. An old man who 



24 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

sat near heard these despairing words of 
the minister and misapprehending their 
meaning said, "No, it is not all in vain, 
I bet if my dog gets the scent of that 
deer they will get it. " 



CHAPTER III. 

THE DOMESTIC SCENES 

The log-house was very common in 
those days. This was usually one and a 
half stories high. There being plenty of 
timber, straight trees were selected, and 
cut into logs of proper lengths. These 
were hewn and notched at the ends, and 
laid up so as to lock each other at the 
corners of the building. The crevices 
between the logs were then filled in with 
small pieces of wood and clay. The 
ventilation was so abundant that the 
people never lacked fresh air in their 
homes. 

The floor boards were seldom carpet- 
ed, but were often scrubbed with the 
hickory splint broom. The ceiling not 
being plastered, the wide pine floor 
boards of the second story served as the 



26 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

ceiling of the first story, leaving the 
joists exposed. Whenever a fresh fire 
was started in the stove or on the hearth, 
the heat would effect the boards and 
cause them to crack and snap. This 
was somewhat alarming to the children 
and superstitious. Many a house in 
those days was supposed to be haunted 
on account of these strange sounds. 

The large fire-place with its and-irons 
and crane was common. The house in 
winter was warmed by a large wood 
stove or by a fire on the hearth. The 
tallow candle and the fat-lamp furnished 
the light within the house, and a tin 
lantern with perforated sides and a piece 
of candle within, furnished light for out- 
door purposes. The iron Dutch oven 
was used on the hearth, and the large 
oval bake oven was usually located in 
the rear of the house. The ashes de- 
rived from the wood burned as fuel, 
was utilized in making lye. These were 
put in a lye leach which was usually in 



THE DOMESTIC SCENES 27 

the form of a barrel, or an inverted pyra- 
mid, and then water was poured on 
them. As the water passed through the 
ashes, it took up the alkali and formed 
the lye. This had a dark appearance 
like coffee or cider. When the writer 
of this book was a very little boy, he 
wandered out to the lye leach, and sup- 
posing the lye was cider, drank some of 
it. This very nearly cost his life. By 
the timely discovery of the mistake, and 
the prompt application of a remedy, 
his life was spared. 

With the lye and the meat scraps 
which had accumulated the women 
manufactured both soft and hard soap. 
At that time there were very few soap 
factories in the country. 

The hickory splint broom was used in 
scrubbing the bare floors, and the corn 
broom for the finer work in the house. 

The corrugated wash board and tub 
were used in washing, and the big iron 
kettle suspended over a fire, was used 



28 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

for heating water for washing, butcher- 
ing and making soap. 

The splint bottom chair, the wooden 
dough-tray and the heavy rocking cradle 
were in common use. 

Mush and milk was a common dish 
for supper in the fall and winter; and 
"snits and knep" was a much relished 
dish for dinner. This consisted of dried 
sweet apples and dumplings cooked 
with fat pork. This dish is now seldom 
seen. It is a thing of the past. The 
aged love to think of this palatable dish 
of early days and relish even the recol- 
lection of it. 

Apple-butter was usually the second 
spread on the bread, and often it was the 
first and only spread. The cider mak- 
ing and the apple-butter boiling were 
important events in those days. It was 
customary for almost every family to 
fatten from two to four porkers, weigh- 
ing from two hundred to three hundred 
pounds. When butchering time came, 



THE DOMESTIC SCENES 29 

they were killed, and the shoulders and 
hams salted and smoked for the years 
supply of meat. Some of the sausages 
were salted down for summer use, and 
some were smoked and dried for winter 
use. 

The neighbors helped each other in 
the butchering season. The meat for 
sausage was cut with the meat axe, one 
in each hand of a man. The skins were 
filled either by the "hand and stomach 
stuffer, " or by a " lever stuffer. " The 
former process was considered killing 
business. 

While the good mother had the frying 
pan full of meat over the chimney fire, 
the griddle hanging from the crane bak- 
ing the buckwheat cakes, and the coffee 
can steaming with boiling coffee, the 
hungry children waited patiently for 
their breakfast. 

Most every home was blessed with a 
large family. It was not unusual to see 
from six to ten children in one family, 



30 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

and occasionally from twelve to eighteen 
children. To feed and clothe the child- 
ren taxed every energy of the parents. 

In summer the children generally 
went bare-footed. In winter they and 
the women wore calfskin shoes and the 
men heavy kip boots. These were all 
hand-made and were strong and service- 
able. Sometimes the country children 
and women in walking to the church or 
to town, to save their shoes, would carry 
them and walk barefooted, until they 
came near the church or town, and then 
put them on. 



CHAPTER IV. 

INDUSTRIAL SCENES 

In those days flax and wool were spun 
by the mothers and daughters, and then 
woven into linen, blankets and cloth. 
These were called home-spun goods. 
There are now in use some very fine 
blankets and coverlets which were spun 
sixty or seventy years ago by our ances- 
tors. Some of these spreads were very 
artistic, having birds, trees and houses 
woven into them. They are now prized 
very highly as heir-looms. The stock- 
ings, mittens and scarfs were usually 
knit by the good mothers and grand- 
mothers. 

In almost every village and town there 
was one tailor shop or more, in which 
two or more tailors were employed in 
making garments for the people. 



32 TRIPLE LIFE OF THE AGED 

There was also the itinerant tailoress 
who would go among the families and 
make their garments. Sometimes she 
would stay several days in one family. 
The children were always pleased to see 
her come, it meant a new suit for them. 
The local tailoress was very highly res- 
pected in the community and was looked 
upon as a public benefactress. 

Almost every village had one or more 
shoe shops where two or more men 
were employed in making and repairing 
shoes and boots. Shoe shops were great 
loafing places as they were kept warm. 
While the shoemaker was busy on the 
bench, the loafers told stories and 
smoked. At times the air was so heavily 
charged with the smoke of the pipe and 
the scent of the water soaked leather, 
that it was stifling to a sensitive nature. 

There was also the itinerant shoe- 
maker who went from house to house 
and made and repaired shoes for the 
families. Sometimes he stayed one or 



INDUSTRIAL SCENES 33 

two weeks with a family. He carried 
with him a kit of tools. The head of the 
family usually provided the leather in 
advance of his coming. Sometimes the 
hide of a favorite heifer or cow was 
tanned and manufactured into shoes for 
the family. 

In those days the carpenter, the ma- 
son, the shoemaker, the tailor and other 
mechanics worked from sun rise to sun 
set. There was no such thing as an 
eight or ten hour system. A pioneer 
once told the writer that when he began 
in the woods that something went around 
his log cabin every morning at four 
o'clock and said: "Get up or starve, 
get up or starve." It was the voice of 
stern necessity. 

In those days the wheat was cut with 
the cradle, and was threshed out with 
the flail, or with a threshing machine run 
by horse power. The grass was cut with 
the English or with the Dutch scythe. 
The former was sharpened on the grind 



34 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

stone, and the latter by pounding its 
edge thinner with a hammer. They 
were then thoroughly whetted with a 
whet stone, or a rifle which was a thin 
wooden stick covered with emery. 

Usually several men mowed together 
in a line, making the strokes at the same 
time. 

The cut grass was then spread, and 
when dry it was raked into windrows, 
loaded on the wagon and hauled to the 
barn or the stack. Here it was pitched 
off by one or two men. This was hard 
work on a warm day. The women 
often helped in the hay fields. 

In those days the potatoes were limited 
to a few varieties as the Long Johns, 
the Meshannocks, the Carter, the Pink 
Eye and Early Kidney. These old 
varieties of potatoes have almost all be- 
come extinct, and other varieties have 
taken their place. The eight row yellow 
corn and the gourd seed corn were the 
most common. But what a variety we 
have now ! 



INDUSTRIAL SCENES 35 

Along the streams were located small 
saw mills, driven by an overshot water 
wheel. The saw was perpendicular, and 
moved up and down. Its daily output 
was small, and when the water was very 
low, they could not saw. 

The gristmills were also located along 
the streams, and were also run with 
water power. The power was conveyed 
to the burrs by wooden cog wheels and 
shafting. 

The burr system was used in grinding 
grain. This consisted of two large mill- 
stones with grooved faces. The one was 
stationary and the other revolved rapidly 
on it. The grain was admitted from 
the hopper, and passed between the 
millstones and was crushed to powder. 

As these mills were few and far from 
some of the customers, they often 
brought their grain to the mill and wait- 
ed until it was ground. The miller 
usually took his toll from the grain the 



36 TRIPLE LIFE OF THE AGED 

customer had brought. From this inci- 
dent the song took its origin : 

O! happy is the miller who lives by 

himself, 
As the wheel goes around he gathers 

up his wealth : 
One hand in the hopper and the other 

in the bag, 
As the wheel goes around, he cries out 

grab: 

This song was used by the young peo- 
ple in connection with their evening 
party plays. 

Sometimes a number of customers 
would happen to be at the mill at the 
same time. If the miller and his wife 
were good natured, they would occasion- 
ally extend their hospitality at meal 
time to their waiting customers. Some- 
times the customers from a distance 
were obliged to wait on their grist for 
hours, and could not return home until 
late in the night. This long waiting made 
these customers social. And many were 



INDUSTRIAL SCENES 37 

the stories told in these old grist mills. 
The miller's office room became the 
waiting room, the story telling room, 
and sometimes the euchre room. 

The people were very neighborly. 
There were bees made to clear the new 
ground, to pick and haul stone, to cut 
corn, and to raise a barn or house. 
But quite often along with these bees 
went the bottle to stimulate the weary 
and wasted energies (?) . 

As very little was known of fire insur- 
ance, very few buildings were insured. 
And when a man was burned out, his 
neighbors circulated a subscription to 
assist the man to put up a new building. 
The people were usually very generous 
in their aid to the unfortunate neighbor. 



CHAPTER V. 

TRANSPORTATION, U. S. MAIL AND MONEY, 
SOCIAL ENJOYMENT AND CRIME 

Before the railroad had come into 
general use, there were a number of 
canals in operation, All kind of freight 
was carried in large boats, and passen- 
gers and express were carried in the 
packet, this was a long narrow boat 
which was well furnished and had plenty 
of windows for light and ventilation. 
The horses drawing the packet were 
usually kept on a slow trot. The speed 
of the packet caused heavy waves to roll 
against both sides of the canal. These 
were considered hard on the canal as 
they washed its banks considerably. In 
order to keep up the speed of the 
packet, there were relays of horses 
every few miles. 



40 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

The overland traveling was done 
principally by the stage coach. With 
four or six horses this great vehicle was 
drawn through valleys and over hills. 
Instead of steel springs, the body of the 
coach was usually suspended by several 
plies of heavy leather stretched length- 
wise. When going over smooth roads 
the riding was easy and pleasant, but 
when going over rough roads the body 
of the stage filled with passengers 
bounced like an elastic ball. 

As the stage was very compact, the 
passengers were obliged to sit closely to- 
gether, and when crowded, the children 
were held by the older persons. The 
coach was usually filled inside with pas- 
sengers and the rack on the rear was 
filled with baggage which was fastened 
with straps and ropes. Sometimes even 
the top of the coach was occupied with 
a few venturesome passengers who either 
wanted to have a better view of the 
country, or did not wish to be too much 
crowded within. 



TRANSPORTATION, U. S. MAIL, MONEY, ETC. 41 

There is a story told of a stage driver 
who had three different prices for the 
same distance, and yet all were admitted 
into the same coach. His three prices 
were one dollar, two dollars and three 
dollars, on one occasion two men who 
were strangers to the methods of the 
driver, learning that the prices were 
from one to three dollars, concluded to 
pay the one dollar fare. As they travel- 
ed along they twitted those passengers 
who had paid two and three dollars, 
saying they had paid only one dollar 
and had the same accomodations. At 
last they came to a long hill. The 
coach was stopped and the driver said, 
"All two dollar passengers get out and 
walk. " When they got out the driver 
said, "All one dollar passengers get out 
and push. " He then said, "All three 
dollar passengers can keep their seats. " 

People traveled much on horseback, 
both men and women. The big heavy 
truck wagon was also often used to con- 



42 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

vey the family to town on Saturday 
afternoon, or to church on Sunday. 
Those who could not afford to travel by 
public conveyance, or had no private 
conveyance, traveled on foot. It was 
considered no great task to walk six or 
eight miles in those days. 

The United States Mail was usually 
carried by the stage, and the stage driver 
was considered a public functionary. 
The man who had learned thoroughly 
the profession of stage driver, and was 
pleasant and agreeable to the passengers, 
was treated with some consideration. 
When the stage route was long there 
was a relay of horses at convenient 
places. 

The Post Offices in the country were 
few and far between. Postage on letters 
was five cents, and usually the receiver 
of a letter was obliged to pay the post- 
age. Later on the postage on letters 
was three ; now it is two cents. Usually 



TRANSPORTATION, U. S. MAIL, MONEY, ETC. 43 

in the country they had only one or two 
mails a week. 

In those early days much of the mon- 
ey was different from that which is now 
in use. The cent was a large round cop- 
per piece. The English fippennybitand 
shilling were very common. The bills 
in circulation were usually on local banks. 

The social enjoyments in winter were 
many. During the season of good sleigh- 
ing, the farmer hitched his horses encir- 
cled with strings of bells, to a large sled, 
and then gathered several families for a 
sleigh-ride. A happier and merrier set 
of people could not be found. He drove 
from five to ten miles to the home of 
some friend. Here they spent the day 
or night in a most social and happy 
way. The music of the sleigh bells 
could be heard on a still winter night in 
almost every direction for miles around. 

In those days several companies of 
militia would meet in a battalion to 
practice. Battalion Day was considered 



44 TRIPLE LIFE OF THE AGED 

a local holiday and the occasion was at- 
tended by great crowds. It was inter- 
esting to see the militia drill. At such 
gatherings refreshments were served. 
For a few pennies one could get a glass 
of small beer and a large piece of gin- 
gerbread. This often constituted the 
dinner of many a young man and his 
sweetheart on Battalion Day. 

The method of suicide was not by 
taking gas or some deadly poison, or 
by shooting oneself, but it was usually 
by hanging or drowning. The person 
bent on committing this rash act, would 
take a rope and go to the garret of his 
house, or to the barn or some near 
woods and hang himself, or he would go 
to the creek or river, and drown him- 
self. 

In those days the murderer did not 
often escape the penalty of the law. He 
did not atone for his crime by imprison- 
ment for life, or die by an electric shock, 
but he was hanged by the neck until 



TRANSPORTATION, U. S. MAIL, MONEY, ETC. 45 

dead. Sometimes the execution was 
public that all might take warning. 
Thus at Easton years ago a woman was 
hung on the top of a high knoll within 
the town that all might see the execu- 
tion. These were pioneer days when 
justice took its untrammeled course. 



CHAPTER VI. 

POLITICAL SCENES 

The aged man thinks of the many 
political changes that took place during 
his past life. He recalls the time when 
slavery existed in the Southern States. 
The Dismal Swamp was the great hiding 
place of the slaves. The fugitive slaves 
tried to reach the dominion of Canada 
where they hoped to be free from their 
oppressors. 

He remembers some of the clashes 
that took place in congress between the 
Northern and Southern representatives. 
A bitter feeling had been engendered 
between the people of the North and 
those of the South. 

How vividly does he remember the 
gathering of the war cloud, and the 
startling declaration on the bulletin 
board; "War! War! War! The Con- 



POLITICAL SCENES 47 

federates have fired on Fort Sumpter. " 
How vividly does he call to mind the 
dark days of the Civil War. How slowly 
did the war seem to draw its weary length 
through those four years of carnage. It 
all looms up before him. 

The sad news of loved ones killed or 
wounded in battle, the lamentations of 
widows and orphans. The bitter feel- 
ing that neighbors and relatives cherish 
toward each other. 

How vivid is the recollection of the 
defeat of the Federal army, the invasion 
of the North and the battle of Antietem 
and Gettysburg. 

As he thinks over these stirring times 
in the sixties, his steps seem to quicken 
to the marching beat of the drum. Dur- 
ing that dreadful war what painful sus- 
pence was experienced by the people in 
the North and those in the South. At 
times it seemed that God had abandon- 
ed the nation to its self-destruction. 
But as the war is now over, the aged 



48 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

man is reconciled to the Divine Will. 
Through it, people have learned the 
lesson that a nation must be chastized 
for its sins as well as the individual. 
And that God puifies a nation as with 
fire. Oh, the miseries of that long Civil 
War. Perhaps the aged husband and 
wife furnished a son, or son-in-law for 
the army. What anxiety was felt for 
him. In some cases both the son 
and son-in-law were slain in battle. 
How sad and shocking the message that 
announced that some near and dear 
friend had been slain. He remembers 
well how the good pastor tried to com- 
fort the bereaved families of his flock 
when they had lost loved ones in battle ; 
and he recalls the memorial services 
that were held in the church for those 
who had fallen in the cause of their 
country. The pastor tried to show that 
they had died in a good and righteous 
cause, and that God would reward them 
for their noble sacrifice. 



POLITICAL SCENES 49 

Many of the aged men of the present 
day were soldiers of the Civil War. 
They are familiarly known as the veter- 
ans. How often does their memory re- 
vert to the stirring scenes of that war. 
At night when they lie down and in the 
morning when they awake, the battle 
scenes and the camp life loom up in 
their mind. 

When they meet their old comrades, 
how happy are they. They grasp each 
other by the hand, and almost overcome 
with emotion, they exclaim in broken 
accents, " How are you old comrade ! " 
Sometimes they simply embrace each 
other with hearts too full for utterance. 

Soon after this hearty greeting, they 
begin the mutual recital of war experi- 
ences. Their reunions and camp-fires 
are occasions of real pleasure and joy 
to them. They seem to live over their 
former days of camp life. The ties that 
bind them together are very strong. 
Together they have camped, together 



50 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

they have drilled, together they have 
marched and together they have fought. 
They had fellowship in the same hard- 
ships, dangers and losses. The tie of 
sympathy is very strong. 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE SCHOOL AND THE CHURCH 

The rural school house was usually 
small. The desks ran along the walls. 
The seats were long benches without 
support for the back, and the pupils sat 
facing the wall. 

Not only did the little children attend 
school, but also the young men and 
women. The number of pupils enrolled 
in a country school, would sometimes 
reach as high as sixty. The text books 
were few and of the simplest kind, and 
the teacher was not always master of 
these. The facilities for gaining an edu- 
crtion were few and limited. 

The schoolmaster was usually a big 
strong man who would be able to con- 
trol the big boys and girls, and when 
necessary apply corporal punishment. 



52 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

Physical ability was required of a teacher 
as well as intellectual calibre. It was 
necessary that the teacher be physically 
able to control the school. 

In those days the spelling matches 
were very common. It was customary 
also to lock the school master out of his 
school the last day, and compel him to 
treat the scholars before allowing him to 
enter the school house. A teacher 
sometimes anticipated the lock-out, and 
came to school the last day prepared 
with a treat of candy and nuts. 

Singing schools also were very com- 
mon. The music teacher met his class 
in the evening or on a Saturday after- 
noon. The exercises were very much 
enjoyed by all present. The singing of 
the scale and a few favorite tunes be- 
came familiar to all. All voices were 
pressed into service and every one felt 
that his voice counted for much. The 
teacher knew what familiar and inspir- 
ing hymns to sing, and what difficult 



THE SCHOOL AND THE CHURCH 53 

pieces to avoid. They usually sang 
without an instrument, and a good strong 
voice was much envied. 

These singing schools afforded much 
pleasure to the community. All had 
great respect for the music teacher, and 
he was invited to share the hospitality 
of different families. No wonder the 
aged grandfather and grandmother smile 
as they think of those happy days. For 
a moment they forget that they are aged, 
and seem to be living in the past, and 
hum the tunes they so joyfully sang in 
the bygone days. 

In an early day the church was usually 
located on a hill, especially was this the 
case in rural districts. This elevation 
for a church may have been suggested 
by Mount Zion on which the temple 
was erected. "The church on the hill," 
was a familiar expression. 

Usually there was a gallery in the rear 
of the church for the choir, and in many 
churches there were galleries also on 



54 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

both sides; these very much increased 
the sitting capacity of the church. 

The pulpit was usually elevated and 
in some churches resembled a wine 
glass; hence the expression, "Wine 
Glass Pulpit." In some churches there 
was a sounding board above the pulpit, 
this was to give distinctness and effec- 
tiveness to the peachers voice. 

In those days the people seemed very 
devout and eagerly listened to the preach- 
ing of God's Word. In many churches 
the services alternated between English 
German preaching. The singing was 
mostly congregational, and was not ac- 
companied with the organ. The tunes 
were limited in number and were famil- 
iar to the audience. The singing was 
led either by a choir, or by a man who 
by aid of the tuning-fork caught the 
right pitch, and then led the congrega- 
tion in singing. This functionary was 
called the "tune-raiser." His services 
were in demand at funerals and religious 
and social gatherings. 



THE SCHOOL AND THE CHURCH 55 

In the early days when hymn books 
were scarce in the congregation, the 
minister would line the hymns, that 
is, he would read aloud two lines and 
the congregation would sing them, then 
he would read two more lines, and these 
were sung in like manner. Thus he lined 
the whole hymn until it was sung. This 
would be a very slow method of singing 
church hymns in our fast age. 

In the rural districts, the school house 
was often used for religious meetings. 
This was usually crowded to the doors 
and walls, and many a spirited revival 
took place during the protracted meet- 
ings in the winter season. 

Many and dear were the associations 
of those early days of church going. 
But where now are many of those who 
in early life worshiped with the aged of 
today? They are no more. The aged 
love to visit the old grave yard near the 
church, for there slumbers many with 
whom he associated and worshiped in 



56 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

God's holy temple. Oh, with what rev- 
erence does he tread the walks in the 
city of the dead ! 

The funerals in that day were some- 
what different from those of the present 
day. The coffin was not like the mod- 
ern casket. It was made of cherry or 
walnut wood with beveled top and lids 
and the whole was varnished which was 
quite perceptible to the nasal organs. 

The coffin was usually placed on the 
bier and was carried from the house to 
the church or grave yard. Often a 
corpse was thus carried half a mile by 
four or eight men who wore black cotton 
gloves. A plain hearse was used in the 
cities and for long distances in the coun- 
try. 

The hallowed associations of the church 
of his childhood he readily recalls. He 
remembers the good pastor who was 
grave and serious in his looks and man- 
ners, sincere and earnest in reading the 
Bible and in prayer and persuasive in 



THE SCHOOL AND THE CHURCH 57 

his discourse. He remembers too the 
good old hymns they sang in worship. 
All these things made a lasting impres- 
sion on him. 

He, too, recalls his early conflicts with 
sin and satan, and the deep convictions 
produced on his heart by God's Word 
and Spirit. He recalls the gradual de- 
velopment of his faith, and the time 
when he made a public profession of his 
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. To look 
back upon his early religious experience 
is like living those days over again. 

He recalls many who in those days of 
religious privileges took a stand on the 
Lord's side. Most of these were faith- 
ful unto death and have already entered 
into their promised rest and reward. A 
few were not faithful and fell back into 
the world. While a few refused to take 
a stand on the Lord's side, and remain- 
ed out of the church, and thus deprived 
themselves of its many blessing and the 
hope of everlasting life. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE MEMORY OF THE PAST IS ATTENDED 
WITH JOY AND SORROW 

As the aged man sits quietly in his 
arm chair the incidents of the past come 
up in his mind. At one time a smile 
comes over his face. He is thinking of 
some pleasant incident of the past. At 
another time he seems to be sad, he is 
undoubtedly thinking of some sad inci- 
dent, it may have been an accident that 
befel a neighbor, a fire that destroyed a 
dear home, a deluge that destroyed crops 
and swept away bridges, or the ravages 
of an epidemic in the neighborhood. 
All these local incidents of his early days 
come up in his mind. 

He also recollects many of his past 
sins and short comings. This is a source 
of grief to him. He thus at times keenly 



THE MEMORY OF THE PAST, ETC. 59 

feels the sins of his youth, and hopes 
that God in his great mercy has forgiven 
them. 

Thus the memory of a long life passes 
through his mind. He lives over the 
past with its joys and sorrows, trials and 
trifles, victories and defeats. 

It is a blessing that we have a memory 
that calls up the past. What a source 
of pleasure or displeasure is there in the 
reflection upon the past. That which 
was good is an occasion of joy and 
thanksgiving; while that which was evil 
is an occasion of sorrow and humility. 
Like heat and cold, light and darkness, 
they conspire to mature the character 
of man. 

That the memory of the past may be 
a source of comfort and happiness, how 
important it is that the youth and 
middle aged, live good lives and do 
what is right, so that they will have no 
painful regrets in old age. 



60 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

If the aged are reconciled to God, 
the memory of the past will be pleasant; 
otherwise it will be unpleasant. The 
past like a panorama passes before the 
mind. The scenes of his early child- 
hood, youthhood and middle life, seem 
to loom up before the mind of the aged 
man. Much of his past life is an occa- 
sion of pleasure and joy, and for much 
he may feel sorry. 

Oh, what food for reflection is the 
memory of the past. How often does 
the aged commune with it, and in his 
imagination transports himself back to 
youthhood and middle age. 

Through the memory, he calls up the 
past, and is thankful for its blessings, 
and sorrowful, penitent and humble for 
its mistakes and follies. 

He thereby learns the value of God's 
mercy and goodness in sparing his life, 
and in exercising forbearance toward 
him. Well may he exclaim, " Bless the 



THE MEMORY OF THE PAST, ETC. 61 

Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his 
benfits, " Ps. 103:2, 

His heart is saddened as his recalls 
the many who have been removed by 
death. Well may he exclaim, "Lover 
and friend hast thou put far from me, 
and mine acquaintance into darkness." 
Ps. 88:18. 

Like a cow that gathers a store of 
food during the day, and in the evening 
lies down and chews its cud, so man 
during the forepart of his life gathers a 
vast amount of experience and in the 
evening of his life, sits down and recalls 
to mind the incidents and experiences 
of his past life. 

It is true the early days were attended 
with much inconvenience and many 
hardships, but even these were condu- 
cive to the development of a sturdy 
manhood and womanhood. It is not 
the sheltered tree in a rich soil that pro- 
duces the richly grained wood, but it is 
the tree on the bleak ridge that is ex- 



62 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

posed to the storms of Nature. The wild 
forces that beat upon it, develop in it 
the veins and gnarls that are so highly 
prized. And so it is not when we are 
growing up in luxurious ease and com- 
fort that we produce the gifts and graces 
which enrich and ennoble the christian 
life, but it is in the furnace of affliction 
and trial that Christian character is de- 
veloped. 

Young people speak of remembering 
certain things in the past, but what is 
their memory compared to that of their 
fathers. The aged father looks back on 
three or four times the length of time 
over which his children cast their eyes. 
He has more to remember. How many 
joys he can remember. How many times 
has his house been gladdened with plenty. 
How many harvest homes has he seen. 
How many times have his children shout- 
ed in his ears and rejoiced around him. 
How many sweet communions has he 
had with God. How many hallowed 



THE MEMORY OF THE PAST, ETC. 63 

services has he attended. How many 
songs of Zion has he sung. And how 
many answered prayers have gladdened 
his spirit. 

When he looks back, he can string his 
mercies together by the thousands. And 
looking upon them his heart is filled 
with gratitude and he can truthfully say, 
" Surely goodness and mercy shall follow 
me all the days of my life.,, Ps. 23:6. 
God has been with him to hoary hairs, 
and even to old age has he carried him. 

How many griefs and sorrows too can 
the aged remember. How many times 
has he been to the chamber of sickness. 
How many times has the aged mother 
been confined to the bed of affliction. 
How many diseases can they look back 
upon. How many hours of trouble, in- 
firmty and approaches to the grave can 
they recall. How many times has the 
old man tottered very near that " bourne 
from which no traveler ere returns." 
How many times has his Heavenly 



64 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST 

Father's rod been laid upon his shoul- 
ders. And yet looking back he can ex- 
claim, " Even to old age he is the same, 
and even to hoary hairs has he carried 
me." 

How often has the aged man gone to 
the grave where he has buried loved 
ones. Perhaps he has laid to rest a wife 
and has gone there to weep ; or perhaps, 
the husband sleeps while the wife sur- 
vives and she goes thus to shed the 
widow's tears. 

The old man can remember sons and 
daughters snatched away almost as soon 
as born ; or perhaps, to live until their 
prime and then cut down in their youth- 
hood. 

How many too of those old friends 
whom he welcomed to his fireside, has 
he buried. 

The aged saint can remember times 
of great temptations. How many con- 
flicts has he had with doubts and fears. 



THE MEMORY OF THE PAST, ETC. 65 

How many wrestlings with the emeny. 
How often has he been tempted to for- 
sake his faith. In mercy he has been 
preserved and enabled to pursue in the 
heavenly way even to old age. 

The reflection of the aged saint is 
sometimes saddened by the recollection 
of his past sins. At times he is con- 
strained to say, Oh, how I have sinned 
in my youth, in my middle age and 
when the infirmities of old age came 
upon me ! How often have I forsaken 
God, and wandered from him! How 
often have I doubted his promises when 
I had no cause to distrust him ! Con- 
scious of his unworthiness he says : 
"Nothing in my hand I bring. 
Simply to the cross I cling. " 

We are apt to forget our faults. An 
honest man will not forget the debts he 
owes to his neighbor. But how few re- 
member their debts to God. You may 
remember your faults with godly sorrow, 
but do not despair. Look for mercy to 



66 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PAST, 

the Lord Jesus Christ. "If we confess 
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive 
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all 
unrighteousness." 1 John 1 : 9. 






The Aged Live in the Present 
Part Second 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE AGED SEE MANY LOCAL CHANGES. 

Like Rip Van Rinkle he wakes from 
his dreams of the Past, and looks around 
in amazement at the present scenes. 
Time has launched him into a new world. 
How different is it now from what it was 
seventy years ago. 

How different are the garments of 
the people. They have discarded the 
homespun garments and wear cloth 
made of the finest quality of cotton, wool 
and silk. The shoes if not as service- 
able as the handmade of former years, 
are more tidy and stylish. The furni- 
ture in the house is more convenient, 
and makes the room look more cheer- 
ful. The ingrain and Brussels carpets 
take the place of the old rag carpet, or 
perhaps the bare floor. The range with 



70 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

the water tank attached takes the place 
of the old Hathaway stove, or the fire- 
hearth. The modern maple, oak, wal- 
nut, or iron bedstead with springs and 
mattress, takes the place of the old pop- 
lar high bedstead with its bed-cord 
stretched lengthwise and crosswise and 
its straw tick. And the modern beauti- 
ful light spreads and blankets are used 
instead of the heavy comfortable and 
feather tick. 

Then the home was warmed by the 
fire on the hearth, or by a wood stove, 
now it is warmed by ornamental stoves, 
hot air, hot water, or by steam. 

In those days the walls of the rooms 
were whitewashed, which was consider- 
ed healthy, now they are usually cover- 
ed with paper of beautiful design. 

Then the muzzle-loading shotgun and 
rifle with a primer and flint lock were 
used, now the breech-loading shotgun 
and rifle with cartridges are used. The 






THE AGED SEE MANY LOCAL CHANGES 71 

old powder horn and shot bag are dis- 
carded. 

Then the railroads were built princi- 
pally by the Irishman, now they are 
built principally by the Italians and 
Hungarians. 

In his early days the weather predic- 
tions were based upon the croaking of 
the tree-frog, the rising or falling of the 
smoke, the lowing of the cattle, the 
flight of birds, and the sound of a dis- 
tant object. Now the weather predic- 
tions are based upon scientific princi- 
ples. From different sections of the 
country are reported to one central 
point the temperature and humidity of 
the atmosphere, the character and velo- 
city of the winds, and the direction of 
the storms. Upon the data thus report- 
ed from different localities, the weather 
man bases his calculations. He can thus 
give a pretty good intimation of an ap- 
proaching storm or calm. 



72 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

The weather bureau is a great benefit 
to the tarmer, traveler and seamen. It 
gives them the advantage of knowing 
what the weather will most likely be the 
next day. In our Dailies the report of 
the Weather Bureau is given, and in the 
large towns and cities, weather flags are 
displayed. 

How different too is the farming of 
today. The plowing on large level farms 
is done by the sulky plow, the sowing 
by the drill, the gathering of the hay 
and wheat crops is done by machinery. 
The grain is threshed by the steam sep- 
arator. Even the grinding of wheat is 
different; it is by the roller process. 
The old burr-mill is a thing of the past. 

What a difference there is now in 
hunting and fishing. In his early days 
the aged man could take his gun, and 
shoot any kind of game, and at any sea- 
son of the year. But now there is a fixed 
and limited time to kill different kinds 
of birds and animals. 



THE AGED SEE MANY LOCAL CHANGES 73 

Then too he could fish anywhere and 
with any kind of fishing tackling; but 
now he can fish only when it is in season, 
and with only certain kinds of appli- 
ances. The law is so strict and so com- 
plicated, that one scarcely knows when 
he dare go fishing; what he dare catch, 
or how he dare fish. 

Many a good meaning man has been 
arrested by the fish commissioner because 
he did not know the fish laws, and was 
found guilty of fishing out of season, or 
with unlawful bait. 

In the early days of our Republic, it 
was no uncommon thing to have the 
bottle in the harvest field and at the 
raising of buildings. Indeed it was 
thought that the crops could not be cut, 
or a barn raised without the help of the 
demijohn. Even a frame church was 
occasionally raised with the help of the 
bottle, and in a few instances the bottle 
was used at a funeral. But how differ- 
ent is it now. The bottle is dispensed 



74 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

with in the harvest field and at the var- 
ious helpful bees. The business men in 
our day realizing the great evil of strong 
drink not only discard but forbid its use. 
The crops are taken off easier and build- 
ings are raised easier and with fewer 
accidents. And one thing is sure, there 
are fewer fights accasioned by the use 
of whiskey in connection with the har- 
vesting and barn raising. The bottle 
now in the harvest field and at barn 
raisings would be considered out of 
place. 

The aged man sees a great difference 
in the transmission of news. Seventy 
years ago the events occuring in our 
country were reported one, two or three 
weeks after their occurence. Then we 
had usually the weekly news papers. The 
telegraph was in its infancy, and there 
was no organized press system for fur- 
nishing the papers with the news as in 
our day. The news from the old coun- 
try was five to eight weeks late. 



THE AGED SEE MANY LOCAL CHANGES 75 

But how different it is now with our 
dailies and the Press System of trans- 
mitting reports. Whatever happened 
in this or foreign countries yesterday 
may be reported in today's Press. 

By our system of telegraph, telephone 
and R. F. D., all our citizens may be 
immediately in touch with all other peo- 
ple and countries of the world. 

It is really surprising that the farmers 
today can read of the events that trans- 
pired all over the world yesterday. 
What a wonderful revolution has been 
made in this respect. The present is so 
different from the past, that it seems 
almost imaginary to our aged people. 
The amount of papers taken and read is 
astonishing. This certainly is an intelli- 
gent age. All feel that it is an age of 
progress. 

How changed are the schools. Years 
ago we had the common public schools, 
academies, and here and there a college. 
Now every school district is provided 



76 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

with a good school house which is well 
furnished with the most modern desks 
and appliances. The free schools are 
now graded so that the children can 
take advanced studies under competent 
teachers. The free school system is 
established throught the States. Our 
young people have excellent educa- 
tional advantages. A number of Col- 
leges and Universities are also success- 
fully operated in different states. Any 
young man or lady, boy or girl, can 
have a good educational course if he or 
she is disposed to take it. We frequently 
hear the aged regret that they did not 
have the educational advantages in their 
childhood days that the children of to- 
day have. 

The present is the age of organiza- 
tion. A few years ago the Odd Fellows, 
and the Freemasons were the two prin- 
ciple societies outside of the Church, 
but now we have a long list of societies ; 
Odd Fellows, Freemasons. Grangers, 



THE AGED SEE MANY LOCAL CHANGES 77 

Labor Unions, American Mechanics, 
Manufacturers Unions, etc. Sometimes 
one is led to think that there is too much 
organization for the good of the people. 
Even crime seems to be organized, as 
the Molly Maguires of a score years 
ago, and the Black Hand of our day. 

The old man thus feels that the pres- 
ent is very different from the past, and 
at times he does not seem to be in sym- 
pathy with it. 



CHAPTER X. 

THE PHYSICAL CHANGE IN HIMSELF. 

The aged man not only realizes that 
the present external world is different 
from that of his childhood days, but that 
his own physical being has undergone a 
great change. Sixty years ago he was a 
vigorous youth, full of energy, zeal and 
life. With a glow on his cheek, a rest- 
less energy in his soul, with fond hopes 
and aspirations for manhood and middle 
age. Then he had a healthy body, a 
strong nerve and will to do. But how 
changed is all this now. His steps are 
tottering, his brow is furrowed, his head 
heavy, his hand trembling, his sight is 
dim, his voice husky, his hearing dull 
and his will indisposed. The tabernacle 
in which he lives seems to be on the 
verge of collape and decay. 



THE PHYSICAL CHANGE IN HIMSELF 79 

Solomon has given us a most striking 
view of the infirmities of old age in 
Ecc. 12 : 1-7. 

"Remember now thy Creator in the 
days of thy youth, while the evil days 
come not, nor the years draw nigh, 
when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure 
in them ; 

While the sun, or the light, or the 
moon, or the stars, be not darkened, 
nor the clouds return after the rain : 

In the day when the keepers of the 
house shall tremble, and the strong men 
shall bow themselves, and the grinders 
cease because they are few, and those 
that look out of the windows be darken- 
ed, 

And the doors shall be shut in the 
streets, when the sound of the grinding 
is low, and he shall rise up at the voice 
of the bird, and all the daughters of 
music shall be brought low; 

Also when they shall be afraid of that 
which is high, and fears shall be in the 



80 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

way, and the almond tree shall flourish, 
and the grasshopper shall be a burden, 
and desire shall fail: because man goeth 
to his long home, and the mourners go 
about the streets : 

Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or 
the golden bowl be broken, or the 
pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the 
wheel broken at the cistern. 

Then shall the dust return to the earth 
as it was : and the spirit shall return unto 
God who gave it." 

11 While the sun, or the light, or the 
moon, or the start) be not darkened." — 
They look dim to the old people, on ac- 
count of the failure of their sight. 

"Nor the clouds return after the rain." 
— After a rain as soon as one cloud passes 
by another comes. So it is with old peo- 
ple as soon as they are free from one pain 
or affliction, another comes. 

" The keepers of the house tremble." 
— The head which is the watch-tower, 



THE PHYSICAL CHANGE IN HIMSELF 81 

and the arms and the hands which de- 
fend the body tremble. 

"The strong men shall bow them- 
selves." — The legs and thighs which 
support the body and bear its weight, 
bend and are soon tired. 

11 And the grinders cease because they 
are few." — The teeth with which we 
masticate our food and prepare it for 
digestion, cease to do their part because 
they are broken and decayed. 

"Those that look out of the windows 
be darkened." — The eyes wax dim and 
no longer see with clearness. 

1 ' The doors shall be shut in the street. 
— Old people keep within doors of their 
homes, and care not to go abroad. 

The lips which are the doors of the 
mouth, are shut in eating because the 
teeth are gone. 

" When the sound of the grinding is 
low."— The chewing of their food is 



82 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

noiseless because of their defective 
teeth." 

"He shall rise up at the voice of the 
bird." — They have no sound sleep as 
young people have ; a little thing dis- 
turbs them, even the chirping of a bird. 

" All the daughters of music shall be 
brought low." — Old people grow hard 
of hearing, and cannot distinguish and 
produce musical sounds. 

11 They shall be afraid of that which is 
high." — They fear to ascend the steps, 
or climb a ladder to a high place." 

11 Fears shall be in the way." — They 
can neither ride nor walk with their usual 
boldness, but are afraid of everything 
that lies in their way, lest it should throw 
them down. 

11 The almond-tree shall flourish." — 
The old man's hair is grown white, so 
that his head looks like an almond-tree 
in bloom. 

"And the grass-hopper shall be a 
burden." — The old man cannot bear 



THE PHYSICAL CHANGE IN HIMSELF 83 

much, the lightest trouble sets heavily 
upon him. 

" And desire shall fail." — He has little 
desire for food and pleasure. 

" Man goeth to his long home." — All 
these infirmities and decays of age are 
harbingers of that solemn removal when 
the body will descend to the grave where 
it will slumber and the soul will go to its 
home in eternity. 

" The mourners go about the streets." 
— Death will be an occasion of sorrow to 
our friends that love us. Tears are a 
tribute to the dead. 

" The silver cord be loosed." — Then 
shall the silver cord by which soul and 
body were wonderfully united, be loosed, 
the sacred knot untied, and soul and 
body forced to part. 

" Or the golden bowl be broken." — 
Then shall the bowl which held the 
principle of life be broken. 

11 Or the pitcher be broken at the 
fountain, or the wheel broken at the 



84 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

cistern." — All those organs that serve 
for the collecting and distributing of 
nourishment shall be broken. The heart 
beats no more, nor does the blood circu- 
late. 

"Then shall the dust return to the 
earth as it was." — The body was made 
of earth and shall return to earth. 

" And the spirit shall return unto God 
who gave it." — The soul returns to God 
who gave it, to give an account of itself. 

Thus the eyes fail, the hearing fails, 
the memory fails, the limbs fail, the 
whole tabernacle totters and threatens a 
speedy fall. 

The mind, too, frequently becomes fee- 
ble and timid, inclined to sorrow and 
despondency. Under these painful cir- 
cumstances how needful, how desirable, 
is the divine assistance. And the aged 
feel like praying: "O God, be not far 
from me ; O my God, make haste for 
my help." Ps. 71 : 12. "Cast me not 
off in the time of old age ; forsake me 



THE PHYSICAL CHANGE IN HIMSELF 85 

not when my strength faileth." Ps. 
71:9. 

Concerning the aged sinner it is writ- 
ten: "If a man live many years, so that 
the days of his years be many, and his 
soul be not filled with good ; I say, that 
an untimely birth is better than he." Ecc. 
6:3. A man who has reached an ad- 
vanced age and is conscious of the fact 
that he has neglected the golden oppor- 
tunities of the past, must be miserable. 
As he thinks of the past, his wicked life 
presents itself to him. His words, actions 
and conduct condemn him. Instead of 
living for the good of others and the 
glory of God, he has lived a selfish and 
aimless life. He feels that he has been 
a blessing to no one and none will rise 
up to call him blessed. 

Not only has he neglected to heed 
the claims of others, but he has neglect- 
ed the claims of his own soul. In early 
youthhood he saw many of his compan- 
ions and associates attend to the one 



86 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

thing needful, the claims of the immor- 
tal soul. But he has neglected that high- 
est interest of his being. How many in- 
vitations to seek Christ has he rejected, 
how often has he stifled the Holy Spirit, 
and how many appeals from the sacred 
desk has he neglected. God has urged 
him to give his heart to the Saviour by 
the example of some ot his associates, 
by the striving of the Holy Spirit during 
a religious revival, by the sickness that 
came upon his body, and by the afflic- 
tions and death that came upon his 
family. And yet like a stone he has re- 
sisted all these means. 

If his conscience is not seared as with 
a hot iron, his thoughts of the past must 
be galling. His sufferings of the present 
are without solace, and his prospect of 
the future is dark and ominous. May he 
hear the solemn admonition in his tremb- 
ling body and stupid spirit, saying, 
" Prepare to meet thy God." Amos 4: 12. 



THE PHYSICAL CHANGE IN HIMSELF 87 

It is true you have sinned away your 
day of grace. You are no more worthy 
to be called a child of God. You have 
drank from the vial of sin so long. Your 
conscience seems to be calloused Your 
past life of sin condemns you. There 
seems nothing redeeming in your char- 
acter. But there is hope for you. 
Though standing on the brink of the 
grave, and though hearing the sound of 
despair as it comes from the bottomless 
pit. Though calloused with insensibil- 
ity, there is hope for you. God's mercy 
is infinite. He delights not in the death 
of the sinner. He is waiting to be gra- 
cious. " Come now, and let us reason 
together, saith the Lord : though your 
sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as 
snow; though they be red like crimson, 
they shall be as wool. " Isa. 1 :18. 



CHAPTER XI. 

OLD AGE IS THE PERIOD OF LONELINESS 
AND SUFFERING. 

The aged man often looks around and 
finds himself a stranger in the world 
where he has lived so long. Most of 
those who were his contemporaries in 
youth have passed away. Perhaps the 
members of his family have died, and 
he remains like a solitary oak in the 
wilderness. 

It is seldom that the aged meet with 
the respect and veneration to which they 
are entitled. Their habits are consider- 
ed by the young as peculiar, and their 
language as the antiquated speech of 
the past generation. Often their own 
children are cold, careless and unkind 
to them. And they are frequently doom- 
ed to feel that they are a burden to all 
around them. 



OLD AGE IS THE PERIOD OF LONELINESS 89 

Many an aged christian may say with 
the Psalmist, "Lover and friend hast 
thou put far from me, and mine acquain- 
tance into darkness." Ps. 88 :18. 

The companions of his youth are dead, 
or have moved elsewhere, the delight 
of his eyes has gone to the grave, the 
dear children who promised to be the 
staff of his old age are no more, or what 
is worse they shun his company and 
treat him with coldness, perhaps with 
contempt. And those who called them- 
selves his friends in the day of prosper- 
ity are now ungrateful and unkind. 

When your husband or wife, your son 
or daughter, or friends forsake you, let 
your prayer be, " Hide not thy face far 
from me ; leave me not, neither forsake 
me, O God of my salvation. " Ps. 27 : 9. 
The promises are, "The Lord will not 
cast off his people, neither will he for- 
sake his inheritance. " Ps. 94 :14. "I will 
never leave thee, nor forsake thee." 
Heb. 13 : 5. You may boldly say, "The 



90 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

Lord is my helper, and I will not fear 
what man shall do unto me." Heb. 13 :6. 
What wonderful promises has God made 
for the comfort of all his people. But 
there is still another and stronger prom- 
ise. " And even to your old age, I am 
he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry 
you." ha. 46 : 4. 

Old age is often the period of suffer- 
ing and adversity. It is not only the 
period of natural weakness, but also of 
disease and pain. We seldom meet 
with a man entirely free from all dis- 
eases. How much less is it to be ex- 
pected in old age. Even if health con- 
tinues, yet the system weakens, and the 
part6 become impaired. 

When thick and heavy clouds obscure 
the cheerful light of the sun by day, and 
of the moon and stars by night, people 
sometimes complain of the dullness of 
of the weather. In old people the 
afflictions of the body and the troubles 
of the mind often produce gloom. The 



OLD AGE IS THE PERIOD OF LONELINESS 91 

days are dull, the nights are wearisome ; 
and they experience little of that pleas- 
sure which the young generally enjoy. 
The clouds return after the rain. One 
pain and affliction succeed another, as the 
clouds do in a rainy season. 

In cloudy weather the clouds some- 
times disperse and the sun shines ; but 
soon the sky is overcast again, and heavy 
showers descend. So in old age, pain- 
ful diseases sometimes abate, and the 
hope of recovery returns, but the inter- 
val is short, the pains are renewed and 
the clouds return. 

The aged are subject to the failure of 
mind as well as of the body. There are 
instances of aged people retaining the 
vigor of their mind to a great age. But 
with the majority of old people, the mind 
becomes impaired, especially the mem- 
ory. They do not remember what was 
done yesterday, although they can re- 
member what was done fifty or sixty 
years ago. They forget much which 



92 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

they wish to remember, but they find 
that God is just the same, that his good- 
ness does not depend upon their mem- 
ory. 

While the days may come when the 
aged christain says, " I have no pleasure 
in them," the time never comes to the 
aged saint when he says, "I have no 
pleasure in my God." He feels that 
even to old age God is still faithful to 
him. 

Afflictions are beneficial. They wean 
us from the world. "Before I was 
afflicted I went astray ; but now have I 
kept thy word." Ps. 119:67. "It is 
good for me that I have been afflicted ; 
that I might learn thy statutes." Ps. 
119:71. God thus brings us through 
fire, and refines us as silver is refined, 
and tries us as gold is tried. Job said, 
"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in 
him." Job 13:15. "The Lord gave, 
and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed 
be the name of the Lord." Job 1:21. 



OLD AGE IS THE PERIOD OF LONELINESS 93 

It is said that a walnut tree is more fruit- 
ful when bruised. 

So afflictions develop the graces of 
the christian life. Well has the poet 
said: 

"Then shall I sing, O happy rod 
That brought me nearer my God." 

These afflictions " worketh for us a far 
more exceeding and eternal weight of 
glory." 2 Cor 4:17. 

Most useful articles must undergo a 
preparation for their usefulness. Man 
too by divine processes of trial is made 
meet for heaven. The afflictions of this 
life are the divine processes. They are 
appointed of God. 

God does not view our affliction from 
afar off, he is even near as our attending 
physician. The goldsmith does not cast 
the gold in the furnace, and leave it 
there, but carefully watches it and with- 
draws it from the fire when it is suffi- 
ciently purified. The father tries the 
limbs of his child with enclosed arms, so 



94 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

the saint is tried. "Though he fall, he 
shall not be utterly cast down ; for the 
Lord upholdeth him with his hand." 
Ps. 37:24. "As the mountains are 
round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is 
round about his people from henceforth 
even forever." Ps. 125:2. 

Affliction is no token ot God's dis- 
pleasure. " For whom the Lord loveth 
he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son 
whom he receiveth." Heb. 12:6. All 
men complain in affliction, but all do 
not call upon God. 

A dear old saint who was very poor, 
was asked if she never felt like murmur- 
ing. She replied, "When I do I just 
ask the Lord to put me in the easy chair 
and keep me quiet." Her visitor look- 
ed around the poor room in vain for an 
easy chair and then asked her what she 
meant. "My easy chair," she said, is 
Rom. 8:28. "And we know that all 
things work together for good to them 



OLD AGE IS THE PERIOD OF LONELINESS 95 

that love God, to them who are the 
called according to his purpose." 

In visiting a pottery you will see a 
vessel that is blurred and marred. The 
design is not brought out clearly, because 
it is not burned enough. May it not be 
that many of us miss much of the finer 
possibilities of spiritual attainment be- 
cause we are not willing to suffer? 

The infirmities of age teach us the 
evil of sin. If sin had not entered this 
world, these infirmities would not have 
been known. There would have been 
no pain or aches, no failure of hearing 
or sight, no wearisome days, and no 
sleepless nights, These are the fruits 
and effects of sin. If man had not sinned, 
he would not have suffered by age any 
more than angels do. They have lived 
many thousand years, and they still enjoy 
all the vigor of youth. But man lives 
several years before he attains maturity. 
His manly vigor lasts but a little while, 
and then he fades like a leaf, or withers 



96 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

like a flower. "The wind passeth over 
it, and it is gone and the place thereof 
shall know it no more." Ps. 103 : 1 6. 

The aged man should reflect upon the 
evil of sin as the sad cause of all his suf- 
ferings. Sin is a disease and our afflic- 
tions are the symptoms of it. 



CHAPTER XII. 

OLD AGE IS THE PERIOD OF SOLICITUDE 

An old man has not the same anxiety 
that the young people have. Young peo- 
ple are concerned about starting in busi- 
ness, in supporting their young families 
and in establishing their children in 
some useful trade or profession. 

But the solicitude of the aged man lies 
in a different direction. He is more 
concerned about his body than he was 
at one time. It begins to totter, shake 
and quiver. He cannot now run as he 
did formerly. He feels that the earthly 
house of his tabernacle is dissolving. 
He even now and then feels that the 
pitcher will soon be broken at the foun- 
tain. 

The chief solicitude of the aged is 
death. Young men may die, but old 



98 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

men must die. He feels that at best his 
days are few on earth. 

The thought of life is solemn because 
it is connected with great responsibilities. 
God has entrusted us with talent, and we 
must render an account of our steward- 
ship. We are responsible to God for 
the many mercies he has bestowed upon 
us; the privileges given us, and the op- 
portunities he has presented to us. 

It matters not how many years a man 
has lived ; only those years which have 
been spent in the service of God and 
man, count as having real value. The 
poet Baily has truthfully said : 

" We live in deeds, not in years, 
In thoughts, not in breaths, 
In feelings, not in figures on the dial ; 
He lives most who thinks most, feels most, 
and acts most." 

He fears that if he is wrong now it will 
be a terrible disappointment to have 
spent all his life in a profession of relig- 



OLD AGE IS THE PERIOD OF SOLICITUDE 99 

ion which proves insufficient in the end. 
He feels how solemn a thing the Gospel 
is. That the world is nothing to him, 
and that he is nearing the bar of God. 
But still he feels that God's faithfulness 
is the same ; that if he is nearing death, 
he is also nearing Heaven. 

My aged friend, what will be the destiny 
of your soul? "In the place where the 
tree falleth there it shall be." Ecc. 11:3. 
You have seen the gate of death open 
for many years. One generation after 
another has passed away. You are a 
lonely oak that has stood many a storm. 
But soon you must yield to death and 
pass through its gate. 

Are you prepared to die and meet 
your God? Do you believe in Christ? 
As a sinner have you fled to Him for 
refuge? Has your heart been renewed 
by grace? Are you a new creature in 
Christ Jesus? Are you made meet by 
the spirit of God for the inhabitance of 
saints in light? 



100 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

If you have neglected the care of your 
soul, even at the eleventh hour, you may 
obtain the salvation you have hitherto 
slighted and refused. "Seek ye the 
Lord while he may he found, call ye 
upon him while he is near. Let the 
wicked forsake his way, and the unright- 
eous man his thoughts, and let him re- 
turn unto the Lord, and he will have 
mercy upon him ; and to our God, for 
he will abundantly pardon." Is. 55 : 6, 
7. May your prayer be, " Cast me not 
off in the time of old age, forsake me 
not when my strength faileth." Ps. 71:9. 

A true and deep conviction of our 
sins and sinfulness will reconcile us to 
our crosses. We should not think that 
God treats us with severity, but sincerely 
say, " He hath not dealt with us after 
our sins, nor rewarded us according to 
our iniquities." Ps. 103 : 10. He has 
punished us less than we deserved. 

An aged sinner may justly say, "How 
many are in Hell, who never sinned so 



OLD AGE IS THE PERIOD OF SOLICITUDE 101 

much, nor so long as I have. They are 
taken and I am left. God has given me 
time and space for repentance, and my 
afflictions loudly call me to it. "Where- 
fore doth a living man complain, a man 
for the punishment of his sins." Lam. 
3 : 39. Sinners must repent and not re- 
pine. We are yet living men, and while 
there is life there is hope. 

In the day of adversity consider. In- 
stead of complaining, let us search and 
try our ways, and turn again unto the 
Lord. If sin has become bitter to us, if 
we abhor ourselves on account of it, we 
shall welcome the cross which is intend- 
ed to destroy the body of sin ; to crucify 
the old man with the affections and 
lusts; and make us partakers of God's 
holy nature. Well may the aged and 
afflicted penitent say, " I will bear the 
indignation of the Lord, because I have 
sinned against Him." 

Few will deny that they have sinned 
against their fellow men, against parents, 



102 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

husband and wife, children and neigh- 
bors, but they do not remember their 
sins against God. 

There are times and occasions, which 
ought to bring our sins to our remem- 
brance, especially the time of old age. 
Observing the sins of others, we are re- 
minded of our own transgressions. 

The aged person will see with heart- 
felt grief, the sins of his youth acted over 
again by the rising generation. It is re- 
corded of a holy martyr that when he 
saw a criminal led to execution, he would 
say, " There goes John Bradford, had 
it not been for the grace of God." 

Afflictions are often the means of hum- 
bling the soul for sin. When God sends 
some sharp affliction to try us, we may 
say as the woman of old did to the Pro- 
phet, "Art thou come unto me to call 
my sins to remembrance?" 1 King 
17:18. 

The apprehension of approaching 
death will tend to bring sins to remem- 



OLD AGE IS THE PERIOD OF SOLICITUDE 103 

brance. " Men may live fools, but fools 
they cannot die." The conscience 
though dormant before, now awakens, 
and the most ungodly will resort to re- 
ligion. 

Solemn and awful is the thought of ap- 
pearing before a holy and just God and 
entering into the unknown and eternal 
state, to receive sentence according to 
what we have done in the body. Even 
the heathen sailors in the ship with Jonah, 
when they were threatened with ship- 
wreck and death, " cried every man to 
his God." Jonah 1 : 14. 

Let not the great concern of the soul 
be put off to the last hour. Dying per- 
sons have often expressed their inability 
to prepare for the approaching change. 
Let every one now call his sins to re- 
membrance and repent in dust and ashes. 
" Let the wicked forsake his way; and 
let him return to the Lord, and he will 
have mercy upon him, and to our God, 
for he will abundantly pardon. " Is. 55 : 7 . 



104 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

" If we confess our sins, he is faithful 
and just to forgive us our sins, and to 
cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 
1 J. 1:9. Happy is the aged penitent 
who has thus remembered his sins, re- 
pented, and obtained pardon. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

THE AGED CHRISTIAN SHOULD EXERCISE 
FAITH, PATIENCE AND RESIGNATION 

It is written of the righteous, " They 
shall still bring forth fruit in old age ; 
they shall be fat and flourishing." Ps. 
92 : 14. The aged christian should bring 
forth the testimony of his experiences. 

Young christians are just trying some 
of the promises of God. But the aged 
christian can turn them over one after 
another and say, " There, I have tried 
this promise and that promise, and have 
found every one true." 

As they read the promises of God, 
some are inclined to say, " I hope they 
are true." But the aged saint says, " I 
know they are true; " and he gives his 
experience in testing them. David says, 
M I love the Lord, because he hath heard 



106 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

my voice and my supplications. Because 
he hath inclined his ear unto me, there- 
fore will I call upon him as long as I live. 
The sorrows of death compassed me, 
and the pains of hell gat hold upon me : 
I found trouble and sorrow. Then called 
I upon the name of the Lord ; O Lord, 
I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Gra- 
cious is the Lord, and righteous: yea, 
our God is merciful. The Lord preser- 
veth the simple : I was brought low, and 
he helped me." Ps. 116:1-6. David 
lived to a good old age, and his testi- 
mony is the language of experience. 

Old people have not the doubts which 
young people often have about the doc- 
trines of the Bible. From lack of know- 
ledge and experience young people are 
apt to doubt, but as they grow older 
their faith becomes solid and firm. By 
experience the aged have learned the 
truthfulness of the promise, "God is 
faithful, who will not suffer you to be 



THE AGED SHOULD EXERCISE FAITH, ETC. 107 

tempted above that you are able. " 
1 Cor. 10:13. 

The aged christian should exercise 
patience. This is needed at every 
period of life, but especially in old age. 
Youth is the season of activity and plea- 
sure ; but old age is usually the season of 
pain and affliction, and then patience 
becomes more necessary than ever. 

It is well known that the numerous 
pains and troubles of the aged call tor 
the exercise of patience. Corrupt 
human nature is apt to fret and murmur 
when afflictions are heavy, numerous 
and long continued. But the christian 
will meet this temptation to impatience, 
by recalling the number of mercies he 
has enjoyed in youthhood and middle 
life. 

Trial and trouble usually abound more 
at the close of life than at any other for- 
mer period, and one great design in 
sending them is patience . Paul says, 
"Tribulation worketh patience; And 



108 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

patience, experience; and experience, 
hope ; And hope maketh not ashamed ; 
because the love of God is shed abroad 
in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which 
is given unto us. " Rom. 5:3-5. 

To the christian afflictions are the 
tokens of paternal love, intended to 
purge away the dross of corruption, to 
wean the heart from the creature, and 
direct the affections to things above, 
toward which he is advancing every 
day. If then he believes that all things 
work together for good to them that love 
God, he will be reconciled to the rod that 
smites, and will bless the hand that 
chastises. 

When patience has done its proper and 
perfect work, it produces experience, an 
experience of the power and grace of 
God in supporting and comforting us 
under the rod. 

How many afflicted persons, instead 
of exercising christian patience, go to 
vain and hurtful amusements for help ; 



THE AGED SHOULD EXERCISE FAITH, ETC. 109 

and others seek a miserable relief in 
strong drink, while others, impatient to 
the utmost degree, put an end to their 
earthly existence. Sinful impatience is 
compared in the Bible to the rage of an 
ox not accustomed to the yoke. Jer. 
31 : 18. 

The aged christian will generally be 
patient. If truly penitent for his sins, 
he will be patient and reconciled to the 
rod of correction. The promises, " As 
thy days, so shall thy strength be." 
Deut. 33 : 25. God will give him pa- 
tience to endure all his pains and infin- 
ites. He has said, " I will never leave 
thee, nor forsake thee." Heb. 13 : 5. 

A firm belief in the Providence of God 
is necessary to our patience and resigna- 
tion to God's holy will. The great God 
who made the world, rules and governs 
it and preserves and governs all his creat- 
ures. Nothing can take place without 
his permission. " Are not two sparrows 
sold for a farthing ? and one of them 



110 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

shall not fall on the ground without your 
Father. But the very hairs of your head 
are all numbered." Math. 10:29,30. 
This is to teach us that the Providence 
of God extends to every thing, however 
little and trifling it may seem to be. 
God is the Author of our being. It is in 
Him that we live, move and have our 
being. 

It is He who gives us our daily bread, 
preserves us in sickness and restores us 
to health. All our troubles and afflic- 
tions are under his control. And if we 
are his children, He will be our guide 
unto death, our support when dying and 
be our portion beyond the grave. 

It is a comfort to know that the Christ- 
ian's journey is under divine direction 
and care. God illuminates his way, di- 
rects his steps, supplies his wants, and 
chases away his fears. Thus the holy 
men of old reasoned. When Job lost 
all his great possessions, and all his ten 
children in one day, he refers to the 



THE AGED SHOULD EXERCISE FAITH, ETC. Ill 

providence of God when he says, "The 
Lord gave and the Lord hath taken 
away ; blessed be the name of the Lord. 
Job 1:21. 

Many an aged person may number 
among his afflictions the loss of his prop- 
erty which he once possessed, and which 
he hoped would have been his support 
in his old age. But it is lost and gone, 
and painful poverty has succeeded. Or 
he may mourn the loss of his beloved 
wife, or affectionate children. Let him 
imitate Job, calmly submit to the holy 
will of God, and bless him who takes 
away as well as gave. Thus it becomes 
us to bow to the Sovereign Disposer of all 
things. " Shall not the Judge of all the 
earth do right?" Gen. 18 : 25. 

"The Lord is righteous in all his ways, 
and holy in all his works." Ps. 145 : 17. 
"Just and true are thy ways, thou King 
of Saints." Rev. 15:3. "Shall the 
thing formed say to him that formed it, 
Why hast thou made me thus? Hath 



112 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

not the potter power over the clay, of 
the same lump to make one vessel unto 
honor, and another unto dishonor ?" 
Rom. 9 : 20, 21. When tempted to mur- 
mur or complain, " Be still, and know 
that I am God." Ps. 46:10. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

OLD AGE SHOULD BE A SEASON OF GRATITUDE 

The aged christian has occasion to say 
"Bless the Lord, O my Soul; and all that 
is within me, bless his holy name. Bless 
the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all 
his benefits." Ps. 103; 1, 2. 

It was the complaint of some persons 
in ancient times that injuries were written 
in marble, but benefits were written in 
sand. The former are never forgotten, 
the latter never remembered. Ingrati- 
tude to man is no uncommon fault, but 
we are far more prone to forget the 
benefits we receive from God. 

When you was a helpless infant, it was 
God that supported you, when a young 
man it was God that protected you, and 
now when you are old, you trust that God 
will not forsake you. 



114 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

Aged people should review their past 
years and recollect with gratitude the 
goodness of God to them. Look back to 
infancy. What a feeble creature is the 
human infant, more feeble than the 
young of any animal. Forget not the 
benefits of God in your early childhood. 
More than a fourth of the children born 
into this world, die before they are seven 
years old. Many are the diseases of 
childhood which few wholly escape and 
which prove fatal to a large portion of 
mankind. Children too by their heed- 
lessness often expose themselves to dan- 
gers, and their very amusements are of- 
ten destructive. 

The paths of youth are slippery. The 
seed of sin which are in our fallen nature, 
now shoot up in the form of youthful lusts, 
which war against the soul. Violent are 
the propensities of our sinful nature. Re- 
view your middle life. In the sweatofthe 
face you have eaten your bread. But 
who gave you strength to labor, and sue- 






OLD AGE A SEASON OF GRATITUDE 115 

cess in your business? It was God. If 
you have become wealthy in your busi- 
ness or profession, boast not of your own 
wisdom and diligence, but ascribe your 
success to the bounty of your Heavenly 
Father. 

If poverty has been your painful lot 
your necessities have been supplied ; 
you have had food and raiment. And 
perhaps you have had better health and 
more contentment than many of those 
in better wordly circumstances. 

In the course of a long life, you may 
have occasion to look back on some re- 
markable deliverance from danger. If 
you have been to sea, you may have 
witnessed many a hard gale, and nar- 
rowly escaped a fatal shipwreck. Some 
of your companions may have perished. 

Workmen in some employments are 
exposed to great dangers. And trav- 
ellers are exposed to many disasters on 
land and sea. Preservation from these 



116 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

is a special benefit to be thankfully re- 
corded and acknowledged. 

Are you an old soldier? Think of 
the many dangers to which you were 
exposed. How many of your comrades 
were wounded, and how many killed 
on the battlefield. How many too have 
perished from exposure, sickness and 
disease. But you have been spared. 

Few have lived in the world who have 
not at times been dangerously ill. Per- 
haps there was a time when some sick- 
ness, or disease laid you very low ; when 
there was but a step between you and 
death. But God spoke the word, the 
disease was rebuked and your health was 
restored. 

Do you praise the Lord according to 
his benefits ? Do you remember the vows 
you made in sickness? Recovering from 
sickness is one of the benefits which we 
should not forget. 

Let your domestic comforts be thank- 
fully remembered. It is God who " set- 



OLD AGE A SEASON OF GRATITUDE 117 

teth the solitary in families." Ps. 68 : 6. 
Our Maker thought it not good for man 
to be alone. And by the institution of 
marriage laid the foundation of a thous- 
and comforts. The reader has perhaps 
sustained the relation of a husband, wife, 
brother or sister. And from these ten- 
der relations has received for many years 
a rich variety and succession of his chief 
delights. They have been the source of 
his principle happiness through life. 
Some of the dear relatives have gone to 
the grave, but you have not forgotten 
their kindness. Oh, forget not to praise 
that God from whom all this kindness 
flows. 

Plato, the pagan philosopher, thank- 
ed God that he was made a man, and 
not a beast. What a privilege it is not 
only to be made a human being, but also 
born in the land of Gospel light and re- 
ligious liberty. Here you have the word 
of God which is able to make you wise 
unto salvation. Here you enjoy the 



118 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

rich privilege of hearing the Gospel 
preached. We can truly say, " Blessed 
are your eyes, for they see ; and your 
ears, for they hear." Math 13 : 16. 

Thrice happy are you if your eyes 
have been opened that you see the need 
of the Savior; that you flee to Him for 
refuge ; that you receive Him as your 
Prophet to teach you ; your Priest to 
atone for you ; and your King to reign 
over you. Yes, blessed are those who 
find Christ, win Him, and are found in 
Him. Who hope and trust in Him. 

Perhaps you descended from pious 
parents, and have enjoyed the benefits 
of a religious home and education. 
May your godly parents meet their pos- 
terity in glory and be able to say: 
"Here are we and the children which 
thou gavest us. " What a happy meet- 
ing that will be. May it be your happy 
lot to join the redeemed throng in the 
heavenly world. 



OLD AGE A SEASON OF GRATITUDE 119 

Those who have had communion with 
God in prayer, in his word, in his house 
and in his ordinances, know how to ap- 
preciate these privileges. 



CHAPTER XV. 

SPECIAL DUTIES ENJOINED UPON THE AGED 

Aged people should not be self-con- 
ceited as too many are, and think they 
do not need instruction ; but they should 
be glad to learn what are their special 
duties which God requires of them. 

The aged should be sober-minded, 
sedate and vigilant. Our Savior urged 
watchfulness upon all his diciples, and 
this is necessary to the aged. 

The decay of nature, the failure of 
strength, and the various pains and in- 
firmities of advanced life, loudly pro- 
claim the approach of death which can- 
not be far distant, and may be near at 
hand, even at the door. Many old 
people die suddenly. An attack of palsy 
or apoplexy may come upon the human 
frame at any time, and in a few days, 



THE DUTIES ENJOINED UPON THE AGED 121 

hours or minutes, life may become ex- 
tinct. How often have we heard or 
read of aged people thus suddenly taken 
ill at the table, or while sitting in their 
chair, or while lying on their bed, and 
suddenly passed away. 

This uncertainty of the time when 
God shall call us hence, was urged by 
our Lord as an argument to enforce his 
exhortation to watchfulness. "Watch 
therefore ; for ye know not what hour 
your Lord doth come." Math. 24:42. 
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in 
such an hour as ye think not the son of 
man cometh. ' ' Math. 24 : 44. 

As very few opportunities for spiritual 
improvement may remain, the aged 
should diligently improve them. He 
should be watchful against those evils to 
which he is most prone as covetousness 
and the love of the world. He should 
also guard against pride and peevish- 
ness, and needless and useless anger. 



122 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

Gravity or seriousness should char- 
acterize the aged. Levity and exces- 
sive gayety of temper and talk are cen- 
surable in all, but more especially in 
the aged. Filthiness, foolish talking 
and jesting are never commendable, but 
in old people they are odious and dis- 
tasteful. 

An aged minister of state when asked 
why he was more fond of retirement and 
more pensive than formerly, replied : 
"Ah, my friend, while we laugh, all 
things about us are serious. God is 
serious who exercises patience toward 
us ; Christ is serious who shed his blood 
for us ; the Holy Spirit is serious who 
striveth against the obstinacy of our 
hearts; all that are in Heaven are ser- 
ious, and all that are in Hell are serious. 
How then can a man that has one foot 
in the grave jest and laugh." 

Cheerfulness is very desirable and ad- 
mirable in the aged. The aged christian 
is often feeble in mind as well as in body. 



THE DUTIES ENJOINED UPON THE AGED 123 

He is frequently low-spirited, and 
tempted to fear and despond. He 
thinks that God takes no notice of his 
sorrowful condition, or, it he sees it, he 
does not regard it or interpose for his 
relief. David thus felt at one time and 
exclaimed; "Will the Lord cast off for- 
ever? and will he be favorable no more? 
Hath God forgotten to be gracious ? 
hath he in anger shut up his tender 
mercies?" Ps. 77:7,9. And he check- 
ed himself for such sad apprehension 
and added : "This is my infirmity: but I 
will remember the years of the right 
hand of the Most High." Ps. 77:10. To 
those fears and doubts of the christian 
God says: " Can a woman forget her 
sucking child, that she should not have 
compassion on the son of her womb? 
yea, they may forget, yet will I not for- 
get thee." Isa. 49 : 15. 

True religion and a lively hope of 
heavenly happiness, will inspire the 
good man with cheerfulness. It helps 



124 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

him better to bear his infirmities, and it 
makes him more pleasing to his family 
and young friends. 

Cheerfulness should not degenerate 
into folly and lightness. The aged of 
either sex should not be gay in their 
apparel, or frequent places of sinful 
amusements. They should seek retire- 
ment, read their Bible, and attend the 
services of God's house as often as they 
are able. They should abound in pri- 
vate prayer, and by their conversation 
and example, recommend their religion 
to their children, their grandchildren, 
and all about them. 

The aged should be temperate in their 
eating and drinking. Our mortal bodies 
must be daily nourished. God has mer- 
cifully provided proper articles of food. 
At first the fruit of the tree was the food 
of man. Then God granted a variety 
of herbs, and lastly the flesh of beasts, 
birds and fish. He has given man the 
free use of all these, and has endowed 



THE DUTIES ENJOINED UPON THE AGED 125 

him with an appetite that he many seek 
his food and enjoy it. Through the de- 
pravity of his fallen nature, he is prone 
to abuse these gifts of God by gluttony 
and drunkenness. He becomes carnal 
and minds earthly things. Like the beasts 
that perish, he lives a life of mere sense, 
and his inquiries are those of the hea- 
then, "What shall we eat; or, what 
shall we drink? or wherewithal shall we 
be clothed?" Math. 6:31. In the 
meantime God is forgotten, religion is 
disregarded, perhaps despised, and the 
salvation of the soul is neglected. 

Not abounding in love to God and 
man, but under the power of a carnal 
mind which is enmity toward God and 
toward man, he is selfish, covetous, an- 
gry and morose. Not patient in afflic- 
tion, but murmurs at his lot, and unwill- 
ing to bear the rod. 

This disposition and conduct is dan- 
gerous at any period of life, but is dread- 
ful when life is drawing to a close. Then 



126 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

men should be more dead to the world 
and its pleasures and more concerned 
about the next world. 

There was a slave whose master died. 
Somebody said to the simple-hearted 
old man, " I hope your master has gone 
to heaven." " I'se afraid he has'nt 
gone dare," was the reply, "for I never 
heard him speak of dat. When he go 
to de North, or de Virginny Springs, 
he's gettin' ready long time ahead. I 
never see him gettin' ready for goin' to 
heaven." There is much truth in this 
inference of the old slave. 

Perhaps the aged may plead that their 
strength fails, that their spirits sink, and 
that they need greater support than for- 
merly. But they should be moderate in 
their eating and drinking. 

Too many aged men, and sometimes 
women too, resort to spirituous liquors. 
This is lamentable. How often has it 
occured that death ensued soon after 
going to a feast, or gratifying the palate 



THE DUTIES ENJOINED UPON THE AGED 127 

with too great a variety or quantity of 
meats and drinks. How opportune is 
the warning: "Take heed to yourselves, 
lest at any time your hearts be over- 
charged with surfeiting, and drunken- 
ness, and cares of this life, and so that 
day come upon you unawares." Luke 
21:34. Let the aged be always temper- 
ate and very moderate in the indulgence 
of their appetites. 

What a sad picture is an aged man 
tottering on the verge of the grave, who 
is not sober and watchful, but is careless 
and unconcerned about his soul ; is not 
grave and serious, but vain and trifling, 
light and foolish ; not temperate but 
fond of indulging to excess in his eating 
and drinking. " Whose end is destruc- 
tion, whose God is their belly, and 
whose glory is in their shame, who mind 
earthly things." Phil. 3:19. 

The sinking and afflicted man may be 
a backslider. Once he took pleasure in 
religion, and perhaps prospered in the 



128 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

world, but a sad reverse has taken 
place. Conscious of having forsaken 
God, he is afraid that God has forsaken 
him forever. 

In some cases the aged may perceive 
that particular sufferings are the effect of 
particular sins, and he is led to exclaim 
with Job; "Thou writest bitter things 
against me, and makest me to possess 
the iniquities of my youth." Job 13:26. 
"His bones are full of the sin of his 
youth, which shall lie down with him in 
the dust." Job 20: 11. 

It is said that Alexander the Great 
when besieging a certain city, kindled a 
torch and offered pardon to those of the 
inhabitants who surrendered while it 
was blazing, but threatened destruction 
on all who still held out after the flame 
was extinguished. So while there is life 
there is hope for you. God is waiting 
to be gracious to you. His exhortation 
is, " Behold, now is the accepted time; 
behold now is the day of salvation." 
2 Cor. 6:2. 



THE DUTIES ENJOINED UPON THE AGED 129 

The aged christian should be an ex- 
ample and comfort to young people. 
Why is the preaching of an aged minis- 
ter more solemn and impressive than 
that of a young minister? Because of 
his age and experience. Hence it is 
the duty of the aged christian man or 
woman to bear testimony for Christ, his 
church and his religion. It is the duty 
of the aged christian to comfort and 
cheer the young and inexperienced 
christian. None are better adapted to 
this service. They can say, "Be of 
good cheer. Do not fear. I have gone 
through the waters and they have not 
overflowed me, and through the fire, 
and have not been burned. Put your 
trust in the Lord who will sustain you in 
affliction, comfort you in sorrow and be 
your help in every time of need." 



CHAPTER XVI. 

HIS COMING TO THE JORDAN 

As the Jordan River separated the 
Wilderness from the Promised Land of 
Canaan, so death as a river separates 
this world from the spirit world. 

Death is certain. The decree has 
gone forth. The seed of death has been 
sown in human nature. One genera- 
tion after another passes away. This is 
an event which is daily occurring. 

There is no escape from natural 
death. " It is appointed unto men once 
to die, but after this the judgment." 
Heb. 9 : 27. We cannot outlive it or 
Methuselah who lived 969 years had 
not died. Piety will not stay it off or 
Abraham, David and Daniel had not 
died. Greatness will not ward it off or 
Cyrus, Alexander and Napoleon had 
not died. How true the hymn: 



HIS COMING TO THE JORDAN 131 

" Hark! from the tombs a doleful sound, 

My ears attend the cry : 

Ye living men come view the ground 

Where you must shortly lie. 

Princes, this clay must be your bed, 

In spite of all your tow'rs ; 

The tall, the wise, the rev'rend head, 

Must lie as low as ours. " 

There is nothing in the world so cer- 
tain as death. If you had the wings of 
the eagle, you cannot escape it, If you 
had the strength of a lion, you could not 
resist it. If you had the wealth of 
Croesus, you could not bribe it. If you 
had the voice of a nightingale, you could 
not charm it away. If all your kindred 
were around you, they could not defend 
you against it. Death takes the mon- 
arch from the throne, the minister from 
the pulpit, the farmer from the plow, 
and the mechanic from the work bench. 
It takes the husband from the wife and 
the wife from the husband, parents from 
their children and children from their 



132 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

parents, brothers from sisters and sisters 
from brothers, and friend from friend. 

Every eye that now sees will soon be 
sealed in darkness, every ear that now 
hears will soon be deaf, and every pulse 
that now beats will soon be stilled. 
Every one of our homes will soon be the 
habitation of another. And the place 
that now knows us will know us no more 
forever. Yes, we all know that we must 
die. "Is there not an appointed time to 
man upon the earth? are not his days 
also like the days of a hireling?" Job 7:1 
"I know that thou wilt bring me to death, 
and to the house appointed to all living." 
Job 30: 23. Solomon says, "The living 
know that they shall die." Ecc. 9:5. 
Shelly in describing death says: 
" First our pleasures die, and then 
Our hopes; and then our fears, and when 
These are dead, the debt is due, 
Dust claims dust, and we die too." 
Death is a great secret. We know 
not when, where or how we will die. 



HIS COMING TO THE JORDAN 133 

Man knoweth not his time. Some cal- 
endars are printed that give for every 
day two facts : the number of days of 
the year already gone, and the number 
of days that are still left of the year. 
Now in the calendar of our lives we can 
do only one of these two things, we can 
number the days that are gone, but we 
cannot number the days that are still 
left. God is the only one who can keep 
a record of the days that are to come. 
On account of the uncertainty of death 
this exhortation is given, "Therefore 
be ye also ready : for in such an hour as 
ye think not the Son of man cometh." 
Math. 24:44. 

Death is a great change. It is the 
separation of the body and soul. "Then 
shall the dust return to the earth as it 
was ; and the spirit shall return unto God 
who gave it. ' ' Ecc. 12 : 7 . 

We commit the body to the ground 
with these solemn words : earth to earth; 
ashes to ashes ; dust to dust. The soul 



134 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

takes its flight to that country, "from 
whose bourn no traveler e're returns." 

Death is very affecting. It is not only 
the separation of the soul from the 
body ; but it is the separation of husband 
and wife, parents and children, brothers 
and sisters, and friends from friends. It 
makes a vacancy in the home, in soci- 
ety, and in the church. 

Death is called the " king of terrors." 
Job 18 : 14. Paul says, " The last emeny 
that shall be destroyed is death." 1 Cor. 
15 : 26. Most all people fear the mon- 
ster, and yet all must meet it. 

Many are the fears which some pious 
people experience in prospect of death, 
and of the pains of dying. How unrea- 
sonable are all these misgivings. "Fear 
not: for I have redeemed thee, I have 
called thee by thy name; thou art 
mine," Is. 43:1. David said, "Though 
I walk through the valley of the shadow 
of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art 



HIS COMING TO THE JORDAN 135 

with me; thy rod and thy staff they 
comfort me. ' ' Ps. 23 : 4. 

In ancient times the lion was the syn- 
onym of death. To meet a lion was 
equal to meeting death. To be in the 
shadow of a lion was to be in the shad- 
ow of death. Hence any condition in 
which we are exposed to imminent dan- 
ger, is a valley of the shadow of death. 
The man that is engaged in any dan- 
gerous occupation as mining, railroad- 
ing, or the manufacture of explosives, is 
passing through this valley. A person 
who lives in a country where some fatal 
disease o r epidemic is prevailing, is 
passing through this valley. He who is 
in a state of any lingering and wasting 
disease as cancer, consumption, dropsy, 
or heart disease, is passing through it. 
And he who is advancing in years, is 
passing through this valley. 

Do you say, " I am timerous and afraid 
to die?" The less you think of death 
the more terrible it will appear. Make 



136 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

yourself familiar with it by frequent 
meditation and prayer. This will quiet 
your nerves. "O that they were wise, 
that they understood this, that they 
would consider their latter end !" Dent. 
32:29. 

That you may have a hopeful death, 
keep a clear conscience. Paul says, 
"And herein do I exercise myself, to have 
always a conscience void of offence to- 
ward God, and toward men." Acts 
24:16. 

Be always watching and waiting for 
the change. Beware of slumbering or 
sleeping while the Bridegroom tarries. 
Live in constant expectation of his com- 
ing, and then you can say, " This is my 
Lord, and I have waited for him." 

Wean your heart from the world. 
Let the mantle of earthly enjoyments 
hang loosely about you, that it may easily 
be dropped at death. Walk through 
the world as a pilgrim and stranger. 
When the fruit is ripe it falls off the tree 



HIS COMING TO THE JORDAN 137 

easily. So when christians are weaned 
from the earth and have their treasures 
in Heaven, it is easy to die. 

Be diligent in gathering and laying 
up evidences of your title to Heaven. 
This will support and comfort you at 
death. The want of this preparation 
has given rise to doubts and fears to 
some dying christians. 

The prophet Isaiah spoke unto Heze- 
kiah, "Thussaith the Lord, Set thine 
house in order; for thou shalt die, and 
not live." 2 Kings 20:1. Have you 
your temporal and spiritual house set in 
order? As a passenger when on board 
of a steamer, remembers that he has 
neglected some necessary business on 
shore, is very unhappy and uneasy, so 
the reflection of a dying hour upon neg- 
lected seasons and opportunities will pro- 
duce much unhappiness. 

In the hour of death when heart and 
flesh fail, and the soul is about to be 
launched into eternity and appear be- 



138 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

fore God, all the gold and silver in the 
universe, all the splendor of the imperial 
court, will not afford one gleam or ray 
of hope. 

If sin is the cause of our days being 
few and full of trouble, then Christ alone 
can help us. He can cause mortality to 
put on immortality. "For as in Adam 
all die, even so in Christ shall all be 
made alive." 1 Cor. 15:22. 

Aware of the value and danger of the 
soul, Paul intrusted it, with all its inter- 
ests for time and eternity to the guard- 
ianship of the Lord Jesus Christ. If our 
souls are in Christ's hands who shall 
harm them? Who can pluck them out 
of his hands? They shall be kept from 
all evil and raised to eternal glory. 
When Stephen was stoned to death, he 
called upon God saying, "Lord Jesus, 
receive my spirit." Acts 7:59. On the 
cross, Jesus said; "Father, into thy 
hands I commend my spirit." Luke 
23 : 46. 



HIS COMING TO THE JORDAN 139 

Do you rejoice in prospect of a glor- 
ious immortality. "The wicked is driven 
away in his wickedness ; but the right- 
eous hath hope in his death." Prov. 
14 : 32. The Lord takes great interest in 
the death of the righteous. In life he be- 
held them with complacency and de- 
light, much more so will he in death. 
" Precious in the sight of the Lord is the 
death of his saints. " Ps. 116 :15. 

The certain approach of death is 
taught by the infirmities of old age. The 
young may die, the old must die. Death 
may be near a man at any time, but it 
must be very near to the old man. He 
can truthfully say with David, "There 
is but a step between me and death." 
1 Sam. 20 : 3. Death is at the door. Do 
you not hear its knock? Your aching 
limbs, your failing sight, your trembling 
hands, all are the signs of the approach- 
ing change. 



140 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

When God says, "Behold I come 
quickly," our response should be, "Even 
so, come Lord Jesus." 

Death is a departure from the earth 
without a return. David says, "But 
now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? 
can I bring him back again ? I shall go 
to him, but he shall not return to me." 
2 Sam 12:23. Job says, "He shall re- 
turn no more to his house, neither shall 
his place know him anymore." Job 
7:10. 

Death is an awful and momentous 
event. It is the crisis on which hangs 
the everlasting destinies of the soul. 
Does the state of your life, conscience, 
and heart, warrant you a safe and happy 
death? 

How different is the death of the 
wicked from that of the righteous. It is 
dark, dreary and hopeless. It is the 
beginning of sorrow, and the prelude to 
everlasting woe. 



HIS COMING TO THE JORDAN 141 

Death is twofold, natural and spirit- 
ual. Natural death is the separation of 
soul and body. "Then shall the dust 
return to the earth as it was: and the 
spirit shall return unto God who gave 
it. ' ' Ecc. 12 ; 7. 

The second death is the separation of 
the soul from God and is spiritual. 
The poet says : 

"There is a death whose pang 
Outlasts the fleeting breath : 
Oh ! what eternal horrors hang 
Around the second death ! 

Lord God of truth and grace, 
Teach us that death to shun : 
Lest we be banished from thy face, 
And evermore undone. " 

A poor old infirm man or woman full 
of pain and aches, tottering on the brink 
of the grave, and in danger of dropping 
into Hell, is a shocking spectacle. May 
God awake such to discover their dan- 
ger, and cause them instantly to flee for 



142 THE AGED LIVE IN THE PRESENT 

mercy to Jesus Christ, the only deliverer 
from the wrath to come. 

What a beautiful sight it is to see the 
aged christian waiting with patience and 
resignation, all his appointed time for 
his change from mortality to immortal- 
ity, from cross-bearing to crown wear- 
ing, for his translation from earth to 
Heaven. 

"All the days of my appointed time 
will I wait, till my change come. " Job 
14:14. 

Being born of God they are righteous 
in principle and character. A righteous 
life is the best evidence of a saint's true 
character. 

While there is no escape from natural 
death, there is an escape from spiritual 
death. "Behold the Lamb of God, 
which taketh away the sin of the world!" 
J. 1:29. "There is therefore now no 
condemnation to them which are in 
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the 
flesh, but after the spirit." Rom. 8:1. 



HIS COMING TO THE JORDAN 143 

" Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrec- 
tion, and the life : he that believeth in 
me, though he were dead, yet shall he 
live." J. 11; 25. "Blessed and holy is 
he that hath part in the first resurrec- 
tion : on such the second death hath no 
power." Rev. 20:6. 



The Aged Live in the Future 

By Faith and Hope 

Part Third 



CHAPTER XVII. 

FAITH IN THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL 

We have considered how the aged 
live in the Past by memory, in the Pres- 
ent by experience, and now we will con- 
sider how they live in the Future by 
faith and hope. 

Job asks a very important question 
when he says, " If a man die, shall he 
live again? Job 14:14. It is true the 
aged christian realizes that his physical 
being is breaking down, but this does 
not discourage him. With assurance he 
can say, "For we know that, if our 
earthly house of this tabernacle were 
dissolved, we have a building of God, a 
house not made with hands, eternal in 
the heavens," 2 Cor. 5:1. In prospect 
of death the aged saint can say, " I know 
whom I have believed, and am persuad- 



148 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

ed that he is able to keep that which I 
have committed unto him against that 
day. 2 Tim. 1:12. Like Solomon, the 
aged have learned that this world is 
vanity of vanities. He thinks of his 
Heavenly Home as his real good. 

That the human spirit lives after the 
death of the body, is a wholesome doc- 
trine and full of comfort. Its immortal- 
ity may be inferred from its great value. 
"For what is a man profited, if he shall 
gain the whole world, and lose his own 
soul? or what shall a man give in ex- 
change for his soul?" Math. 16:26. 

The immortality of the soul is clearly 
taught in such passages as these : " And 
Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto 
thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in 
paradise." Luke 23 :43. " I am the God 
of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and 
the God of Jacob. God is not the God 
of the dead, but of the living. " Math. 
22:32. It is clearly taught in the par- 
able of Lazarus and the rich man. Luke 



THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL 149 

16 : 19-31. Paul says, "We are willing 
rather to be absent from the body, and 
to be present with the Lord." 2 Cor. 
5:8. 

The christian lives trusting in an un- 
seen Savior, and ventures by the same 
faith into an unseen world. Jesus 
brought life and immortality to light in 
the Gospel, and clearly reveals the future 
eternal state. 

But we are only partially acquainted 
with the nature of the unseen world. 
"It doth not yet appear what we shall 
be: but we know that, when he shall 
appear, we shall be like him ; for we 
shall see him as he is." 1 J. 3:2. It is 
our happiness to know that the Lord 
Jesus has dominion over the world of 
spirits. 

The future world to us at present is 
the invisible world. It is so represented 
to us in the old and the New Testament. 
But Heaven ought not to be to us a 
vague shadowy land, no more real than 



150 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

the fairy land, as compared with this 
life. It is this world that is fleeting and 
uncertain ; heaven is the abiding reality, 
the city that hath foundation. 

Our destiny is an eternal one. That 
idea is wrapped up in our nature, as 
surely as the oak is wrapped up in the 
acorn, as the eagle is in the egg. We 
walk on feet, but are destined to fly with 
wings. The hope of an eternal destiny 
is to us what the ballast is to a ship, it 
steadies us in time of storm. 

God is preparing heavenly mansions 
for our souls, and at the same time, He 
is preparing our souls for these heavenly 
mansions. In both of these worlds, He 
is all the time showing his love for us. 
He wants to make every one of our days 
a preparation for Heaven. 

It is written, "Then Abraham gave 
up the ghost, and died in a good old age, 
an old man, and full of years; and was 
gathered to his people." Gen. 25:8. 
"And Isaac gave up the ghost, and 



THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL 151 

died, and was gathered unto his people. ' ' 
Gen. 38:29. "And Jacob yielded up 
the ghost, and was gathered unto his 
people." Gen. 49:33. The thought of 
dying and being gathered to his people 
is not only pleasant to the aged, but also 
implies the immortality of the soul. 

It is natural to shrink from death, but 
Christianity places us above the natural. 
The river of death as Bunyan beautifully 
expresses it, is deeper or shallower ac- 
cording as we believe in God, and our 
faith can make the river seem to us al- 
most dry land, and only a shaded path 
with home at the end of it. 

A small boy who sat quietly and 
patiently in a railroad car on a hot and 
dusty day, was asked if he were not tired 
of the long ride, and of the dust and 
heat. With a smile he replied, "Yes, a 
little, but I don't mind it much because 
my father is going to meet me when I 
get to the end of it." It is the faith that 
Jesus will meet us on the other side of 



152 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

Jordan, that cheers us in our wearisome 
pilgrimage on earth. One of the saddest 
sights is the coming of an emigrant to a 
strange country with no one to meet or 
welcome him. But Christ has told us 
that he has prepared a place for us in 
the country to which we are going, and 
that he will be there to give us a wel- 
come. 

Stephen was a witness to the immor- 
tality of the soul. His chief concern at 
death was about it. His prayer was, 
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Acts 
7 :59. " He feared not them which kill 
the body, but are not able to kill the 
soul." Math. 10:28. 

The natural tendency of the human 
mind is to live by sight, and not by 
faith. But the believer sees something 
beyond this world. He confesses that 
he is a stranger and pilgrim on the earth 
as were his fathers. The present world 
is not, and cannot be the rest of a good 
man. It is not suitable to his position, 



THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL 153 

it cannot answer his expectation or fill 
his hopes. David longed to fly away 
and be at rest. Job said, " I would not 
live alway. " Job 7: 16. "Paul had a 
desire to depart, and to be with Christ, 
which is far better." Phil. 1 :23. 

The afflictions of this life prove that 
this world is not our rest. This world 
is the scene of crosses and disappoint- 
ments. Our bereavements declare that 
this is not our home. Rachel is still 
weeping for her children. David is still 
lamenting over Absalom. Sisters are 
still mourning for a Lazarus. Our par- 
ents, our partners, our children, and our 
departed friends, where are they ? Lest 
we should build below the skies, they 
beckon us onward and upward, and re- 
mind us that this is not our home. 

Even the most joyous scenes of earth 
declare that this is not our rest. Those 
who have all that heart can wish, or 
soul enjoy; those who are great, healthy 
and rich, are not necessarily happy. 



154 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

The spirit cannot be satisfied with earthly 
good. It soars upward and presses for- 
ward, and nothing short of Heaven will 
satisfy it. Hence we are exhorted, 
"Set your affection on things above, not 
on things on the earth." Col. 3:2. 
Christ prayed, " Father, I will that they 
also, whom thou hast given me, be with 
me where I am ; that they may behold 
my glory, which thou hast given me." 
John 17:24. 

Christ has thus revealed a New Heav- 
en and a New Earth. It is exhibited in 
his Word, promised in the Gospel, and 
offered to all who love and serve him. 
The promise is, "There remaineth 
therefore a rest to the people of God. " 
Heb 4 : 9. Just before h i s departure 
from earth, Jesus said, "In my Father's 
house are many mansions : if it were 
not so, I would have told you. I go to 
prepare a place for you : I will come 
again, and receive you unto myself; that 
where I am ye may be also." J. 14:2,3. 



THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL 155 

The soul and body are the essential 
parts of a man. From their beginning 
to the grave, they run the same race, 
and should enjoy the same reward. 
Should the soul enjoy everlasting happi- 
ness, and the body be lost in everlasting 
forgetfulness? Should the one be glori- 
fied in Heaven, and the other remain 
in dust? No, No, instinctively we say, 
" I believe in the resurrection of the 
body." The resurrection of the body 
is proven by Christ's resurrection. ' ' But 
if there be no resurrection of the dead, 
then is Christ not risen : And if Christ 
be not risen, then is our preaching vain, 
and your faith is also vain." 1 Cor. 
15:13,14. "But now is Christ risen 
from the dead, and become the first- 
fruits of them that slept. For since by 
man came death, by man came also the 
resurrection of the dead." 1 Cor. 15: 
20, 21. 

Death is necessary to the resurrection. 
"That which thou sawest is not quick- 



156 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

ened, except it die." 1 Cor. 15:36. 
"The hour is coming, in the which all 
that are in the graves shall hear his voice. 
And shall come forth ; they that have 
done good, unto the resurrection of life ; 
and they that have done evil, unto the 
resurrection of damnation." J. 5 : 28,29. 

Christ has changed both the nature 
and name of death. It is now called a 
sleep, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth." 
J. 11 : 11. In like manner all those who 
sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 
The sting of death is sin. It was by sin 
that death entered into the world. But 
Christ, the second Adam, brought in 
life and immortality. "If the spirit of 
him that raised up Jesus from the dead 
dwell in you, he that raised up Christ 
from the dead shall also quicken your 
mortal bodies by the spirit that dwelleth 
in you. Rom. 8 : 11. 

By faith Noah saw the unseen flood 
100 years before it occurred. Heb. 11:7. 
By faith Abraham foresaw the coming of 



THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL 157 

Christ long before it occurred. ''Your 
father Abraham rejoiced to see my day : 
and he saw it. and was glad." J. 8 :56. 
Referring to the Patriarchs, Paul says, 
"These all died in faith, not having re- 
ceived the promises, but having seen 
them afar off, and were persuaded of 
them, and embraced them, and confess- 
ed that they were strangers and pilgrims 
ontheearth." Heb. 11:13. So by faith 
we see the fulfillment of God's promises. 
As christians we should feel assured of 
the immortality of our souls, and of that 
house not made with hands, eternal in 
the heavens. This assurance should 
wean the mind from the love of the 
world. 

We shall live not only in the future, 
but also in another world, quite differ- 
ent from the present one. The christian 
feels that he is a stranger in this world. 
" He sets his affections on things above, 
not on the earth." Col. 3:2. As a 
traveler his heart is fixed on the heav- 



158 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

enly home, as a mariner he is destined 
to the heavenly abode. 

" The things which are seen are tem- 
poral ; but the things which are not seen 
are eternal." 2 Cor. 4:18. If a thing is 
not seen, it does not follow that it does 
not exist. Air, gas and life are invisi- 
ble. So it is with eternal things. We 
cannot see them, but we are persuaded 
that they do exist. Thus we believe in 
the soul, God, the Savior, Holy Spirit, 
Heaven and Hell. 

We see these invisible things by faith. 
Thus we accept the fact that there are 
such places as London, Paris and Rome. 
That there were such persons as Alex- 
ander, Ca?sar, Napoleon and Washing- 
ton. What the eye is to the body in 
the material world, faith is to the soul 
in the spiritual world. By it we become 
conscious of spiritual and eternal things. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

OUR VISION AND FORETASTE OF HEAVEN 

Moses the leader and lawgiver of Israel 
was permitted to ascend Mount Pisgah 
and from its lofty summit view the 
Promised Land of Canaan as it lay be- 
yond the Jordan River. "And Moses 
went up to the top of Pisgah ; and the 
Lord showed him all the Land." Deut. 
34:1. A number of inspiring hymns 
have been composed and sung to com- 
memorate this event. 

Death like the river Jordan separates 
us from the Heavenly land; and from 
the Scripture viewpoint we are permitt- 
ed by faith to look across the river of 
death and view the Heavenly Land. 
From childhood we have loved to sing 
the hymn : 



160 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

"There is a land of pure delight, 
Where saints immortal reign; 
Infinite day excludes the night, 
And pleasures banish pain. 

There everlasting spring abides, 
And never withering flow'rs ; 
Death, like a narrow sea, divides 
This heav'nly land from ours. 

Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood 
Stand dressed in living green ! 
So to the Jews old Canaan stood, 
While Jordan rolled between. 

Could we but climb where Moses stood, 
And view the landscape o'er, 
Not Jordan's stream, nor deaths cold flood 
Should fright us from the shore." 

Canaan and the land of Beulah were 
typical of the Heavenly Land. Jerusa- 
lem was typical of the New Jerusalem 
above. Paul had a vision of it when he 
was "caught up to the third heaven." 
2 Cor. 12:2. From the Isle of Patmos 
John had a good view of the Heavenly 



OUR VISION AND FORETASTE OF HEAVEN 161 

Land and has given us an extensive dis- 
cription of it in the Book of Revelation. 

In the Bible, Heaven is spoken of as 
the Habitation of God, the Father's 
House, the New Jerusalem, the City of 
David, and Paradise. 

It is natural to wonder where Heaven 
is, what it is like, what is the occupation 
of its inhabitants, and who shall be our 
associates there. 

It is located somewhere in God's uni- 
verse. It is referred to as being up- 
ward, away from the earth. Christ as- 
cended up to it. Paul was caught up to 
the third heaven. In this heavenly 
place God has his palace, his great 
white throne, his servants and his celes- 
tial temple. 

Scripture represents it as a state of 
rest from wearisome toil, of triumph 
after warfare, of glory after suffering, 
and of life after death. Heaven is a 
state of immortality and infinite bliss. 



162 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

In Revelation we have a beautiful des- 
cription of the Heavenly Canaan; of its 
fertile garden, its River of Life, the 
pearly gates, its unsetting sun, its King, 
and its inhabitants. John saw a great 
multitude which no man could number. 
Heaven is a densely populated city. 

When the sky is covered with clouds, 
occasionally they part for a moment, 
and we get a glimpse of the sky, and 
perhaps see the sun, moon, or stars. 
So the clouds of darkness that intervene 
this and the next world seem to part for 
a moment, and we get a glimpse of the 
spirit world. Such are special seasons 
of revelation and inspiration. Thus 
Stephen just before he was cruelly put 
to death, " being full of the Holy Ghost, 
looked up steadfastly into heaven, and 
saw the glory of God, and Jesus stand- 
ing on the right hand of God." Acts. 
7: 55. Thus too the veil was parted for 
Paul when "he was caught up into 
Paradise and heard unspeakable words, 



OUR VISION AND FORETASTE OF HEAVEN 163 

which it is not lawful for a man to 
utter. ' ' 2 Cor. 12 : 4. This also occurred 
on the Mount of Transfiguration. " He 
took Peter and John and James, and 
went up into a mountain to pray. And 
as he prayed, the fashion oi his coun- 
tenance was altered, and his raiment 
was white and glistering. And behold, 
there stood with him two men, which 
were Moses and Elias ; Who appeared 
in glory, and spake of his decease which 
he should accomplish at Jerusalem." 
Luke 9 : 28-30. Thus after living fifteen 
centuries in Heaven, Moses visits the 
earth and was seen by Jesus and three 
of his disciples' 

In the parable of Lazarus and the 
richman, Jesus draws the veil aside and 
gives us a glimpse of Heaven and Hell. 
At the open tomb of our Lord we get a 
glimpse of an angelic being. "The 
angel of the Lord, came and rolled back 
the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 
His countenance was like lightning and 



164 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

his raiment white as snow." Math. 28 
2, 3. White is the color of Heaven. 

Angels have often been seen on earth 
and have frequently appeared to men 
Many a dying saint has exclaimed 
"Don't you see the angels. The air is full 
of them." A dying elder of the Heidel 
berg Reformed church, Philadelphia 
exclaimed: " I see many angels. I see 
thousands of beings waiting for me.' 
Why should not angels linger at the bed 
side of a Christian who is about to join 
their company forever. Our Savior de 
clared that "the beggar Lazarus died 
and was carried by the angels into Abra 
ham's bosom." Luke 16 : 22. 

A young Scotch woman visiting in 
New York, was smitten with a fatal ill- 
ness. She said. " Take me home for I 
must see the hills of Scotland before I 
die." In mid-ocean she became worse 
and they took her on deck. The west 
was aglow with the setting sun, but its 
glory she did not see. Suddenly she 



OUR VISION AND FORETASTE OF HEAVEN 165 

said, "I see now the bonnie hills of 
Scotland. They are full of chariots and 
horses. They are coming nearer." 
Then she closed her eyes for the last 
time. As she in mid-ocean at the close 
of her life had a vision of the " bonnie 
hills" of her native land, so many a 
saint at the close of his life has had a 
vision of the heavenly land. 

Canaan was a type of heaven. There 
is the Tree of Life, and the River of 
Life. It is a land of freedom after the 
slavery in Egypt. A land of triumph 
after warfare in the wilderness. A land 
of rest after the trials of the desert. 
How cheering is the prospect of Heaven 
to the poor, the slave, the warrior, the 
pilgrim, and to every christian. 

It is a Jewish tradition that Joseph 
when he had gathered grain in Egypt, 
threw the chaff into the Nile so that the 
river might bear it to the neighboring 
cities and distant countries below, and 
thus indicate to them where there was 



166 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

an abundance of grain, So God also 
has sent to us upon this earth slight 
hints of the joys he has laid up for us in 
Heaven. Earth is his footstool. If 
there is such glory to be seen on earth 
what will it be in Heaven. 

Faith is given us to see the promises 
afar off. Hope is given us to expect a 
celestial city. Heaven is the counter- 
part of that void of the heart which we 
feel in this world. To the friendless 
and persecuted it is a place of sympathy 
and love. To the stranger and outcast, 
a home; to the troubled and anxious, 
peace; to the laborer and toiler, rest. 
There will be there no hunger, thirst, 
weariness, cold or pain. 

When a blind boy whose eyes were 
operated upon, had the bandages re- 
moved and was able to see, he saw his 
mother, but he did not know her. Then 
she said, " My son, can you see?" He 
sprang into her arms exclaiming, "O 
mother! is this Heaven?" That is the 



OUR VISION AND FORETASTE OF HEAVEN 167 

best definition of Heaven. It is seeing 
eye to eye, and knowing even as we are 
known. If such joy is experienced in rec- 
ognizing a dear one in this world, what 
must be the joy experienced in heaven 
when we shall meet loved ones who 
have been separated from us by death 
many years. 

Worldly men walk by sight. Their 
mine Is are absorbed with the affairs of 
this world. They seek satisfaction in 
only that which is visible as money, 
property, reputation and pleasure. 
They are not susceptible to heavenly 
visions and felicities. But the christian 
who walks not by sight but by faith, 
walks in the light of Gods countenance. 
He has companionship with God. Thus 
Enoch walked with God. He had a 
foretaste of that fellowship that awaits 
God's people in Heaven. 

As christian pilgrims may we manifest 
the joys of our christian experience. 
Our joyful attitude will recommend our 



168 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

Savior and religion to others. May our 
song ever be : 

" Children of the heavenly King, 
As ye journey, sweetly sing ; 
Sing your Savior's worthy praise, 
Glorious in his works and ways. 

Lift your eyes, ye sons of Light! 
Zion's city is in sight : 
There our endless home shall be, 
There our Lord we soon shall see." 



CHAPTER XIX. 

LONGINGS FOR THE HEAVENLY HOME 

Paul in his Epistle to the Colossians 
says, "If ye then be risen with Christ, 
seek those things which are above, where 
Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 
Set your affections on things above, not 
on things on the earth." Col. 3:1,2. 

There are many reasons for a christian 
longing for Heaven, He prefers perfect 
light to the comparative darkness of this 
world. Here in this state he sees 
through a glass darkly. How little does 
he know of the plans of God. In this 
life he is confounded by the occurrence 
of events which he is unable to under- 
stand. How delightful will be the contrast 
when he reaches Heaven. Then many 
a dark page in the history of God's dis- 
pensation on earth will be illuminated 



170 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

by a clear and satisfactory light. Then 
he will know why he had anguish when 
he longed for rest. Why his plans were 
frustrated, his bright hopes blasted, and 
his choicest blessings taken from him. 

Then the mysteries of redemption will 
unfold to his delighted eye. Then the 
great and holy truths which he knew so 
imperfectly will burst upon him in their 
full brightness. 

Then there will be no uncertainty, no 
confusion, and no darkness. This see- 
ing through a glass darkly belongs to 
earth. But seeing face to face belongs 
to Heaven. There the vision will be 
perfect. And the sun of that moral 
universe will shine with immortal splen- 
dor. 

It is natural that the christian should 
look with grateful expectation toward 
Heaven as the only region of perfect 
purity. At the gate of that world, the 
christian lays aside all that is earthly, 
and puts on the robes of perpetual holi- 



LONGINGS FOR THE HEAVENLY HOME 171 

ness. There, every heart beats, every 
faculty is active, and every harp is 
strung. 

The christian longs to be delivered 
from his wondering thoughts, from these 
cold expressions of devotion, and from 
these feeble efforts in doing the will of 
God. He would converse only with 
holy beings, and would be engaged only 
in holy exercises. 

The human mind has been able to 
grasp only a few problems of Nature. 
It has gathered only a few pebbles on 
the shore of a great ocean of truth. At 
the threshold of Heaven he will drop 
this mortal and put on an immortal 
body. The body will then shine with 
an angel's beauty, and the mind with 
angel's strength. The mind will brighten 
and expand. The moral nature will sin 
no more. "For this corruption will 
put on incorruption." 

In Heaven there will be uninterrupt- 
ed and eternal tranquility. The chris- 



172 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

tian looks forward to it as a sanctuary, 
a refuge which no storm that may rise 
on the Earth or in Hell, can reach. 

In Heaven there is no dying scene 
to break the heart, no party spirit, no 
rivalry and no unhallowed strife. 

The glorified never feel the blighting 
hand of disease, or the blasting breath 
of slander, or the mildew of an envious 
and malignant spirit. 

Why should not the christian wish to 
breathe that peaceful atmosphere. He 
longs for Heaven because the fellowship 
of the glorified he prefers to the society 
of the imperfect. There, all will be 
bound together in the cords of love. 
All minister to the joys of one another. 

All the ransomed out of every nation 
and kingdom and tongue and people 
will be there. Every patriarch, every 
prophet, apostle, martyr, and saint of 
every age, climate and condition will 
be there. 



LONGINGS FOR THE HEAVENLY HOME 173 

There too will be the native inhabit- 
ants of Heaven, who have always been 
loyal to the King, and who will continue 
at home in the fields of immortality. 
Jesus the dying Lamb, the Hope of the 
World, will be there carrying on his 
mediatorial reign. 

This vast assembly will constitute one 
glorious fraternity. Is it any wonder 
that the christian should desire to be 
among them, and that he should be 
more than willing to join the eternal fel- 
lowship of Heaven? 

Heaven is a better country than this. 
It is sinless. The plague of sin never 
comes upon its inhabitants. Its streams 
are all pure, its sky is cloudless and ra- 
diant. The air is pure and invigor- 
ating. 

In that country God's own bright im- 
age is reflected in all its inhabitants. Not 
one spirit is devoted to the service of 
sin and Satan. But all are devoted to 
the service of holiness. They sing, 



174 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

" Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, 
which was, and is, and is to come." 
Rev. 4:8. 

It is a healthy country. Sickness is 
the fruit of sin, and pain is the offspring 
of iniquity. If you could visit every 
hospital, infirmary and sick chamber, 
you would have some conception of the 
afflictions of mankind. Afflictions 
abound among all classes of men. In 
the palace of the monarch as well as in 
the cottage of the peasant. The wast- 
ing consumption, the raging fever, the 
suffocating asthma, the depressing la 
grippe, are common to all classes in 
this world. 

But it is not so with that better land. 
Its atmosphere is never tainted by dis- 
eases. There sickness, suffering and 
death are unknown. What good news 
is this to those who have consumption, 
fever, and asthma ; and to the many who 
are writhing in pain. 



LONGINGS FOR THE HEAVENLY HOME 175 

Heaven is inhabited by perfect beings. 
There dwells the perfect God, the bless- 
ed Savior, and the Holy Angels. There 
too dwell the spirits of the just, and of 
our sainted ancestors. How different is 
that country from this one. 

The saints in Heaven will have clear 
and unclouded understanding. They 
will have true and right judgement. 
Hearts there will be full of celestial love 
and the spirits there will be courteous, 
gentle and meek. Nothing shall hurt 
or vex in all God's holy mountain. 

Heaven is a place of supreme enjoy- 
ment. This world is lull of God's good- 
ness, but the richer blessings are above. 
There our enjoyments will be overflow- 
ing. Here we have only a sip, a gleam, 
a mere taste. There we will have an 
ocean of blessedness, a noonday of light, 
an eternal banquet. 

In Heaven the joys will be unceasing. 
Here they are interrupted. Like Angel's 
visits which were only occasional. In 



176 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

Heaven they will be continuous, a roll- 
ing sea of glory. Death terminates all 
earthly enjoyments. But in Heaven 
there is no end, neither of time or pleas- 
ure. No death, but eternal life. 

It is written of the Old Testament 
saints. "But now they desire abetter 
country, that is, a heavenly." Heb. 
11:16. This desire is the fruit of re- 
generation. The new nature tends up- 
ward. It is born of the Spirit of God 
and tends godward. This desire is in- 
tensified by spiritual visits to Heaven. 
The christian ascends heavenward in 
prayer, in faith, and in hope. He ex- 
claims, "Oh that I had wings like a 
dove ! for then I would fly away, and be 
at rest." Ps. 55:6. 

How truly blessed are all God's re- 
deemed children. They are now on 
their way to the land of rest, their 
Father's House, to endless glory. How 
cheerful should they be. Well may 
they sing: 



LONGINGS FOR THE HEAVENLY HOME 177 

" Children of the heavenly King, 
As ye journey, sweetly sing ; 
Sing your Savior's worthy praise, 
Glorious in his works and ways. 
Lift your eyes, ye sons of Light! 
Zion's city is in sight : 
There our endless home shall be, 
There our Lord we soon shall see." 
The aged saint has peculiar hopes, un- 
like young people, he has few hopes per- 
taining to this world, his most cherished 
hopes refer to the future world. Peter 
says, "Blessed be the God and Father 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, which accord- 
ing to his abundant mercy hath begotten 
us unto a lively hope to an inheritance 
incorruptible, undented and that fadeth 
not away." 1 Peter 1:3,4. Ask him 
the ground of his Hope and he will say, 
"My hope is in the blood of Jesus 
Christ. I do not hope to be saved be- 
cause of any thing that I have done." 
" All my trust on Thee is stayed : 
All my help from Thee T bring." 



178 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

He believes he is still a child of God, 
because he feels that God has given him 
grace to trust in Jesus. 

The object and end of the christian's 
hope is always the same. When the 
christian starts out on his new life, he 
hopes to reach Heaven and see Jesus. 
As he advances in years, the object and 
end of that hope does not change. His 
song is, 

"Jerusalem, my happy home! 
Name ever dear to me ! 
When shall my labor have an end, 
In joy, and peace, and thee." 

Heaven is your true home as chris- 
tians . There your best friends and kin- 
dred dwell. There God your Savior 
reigns. It is this hope that revives you 
by the way. 

What is it that makes a home so dear to 
us, and prompts us to say, "There is no 
place like home." It is not the shrub- 
bery, the furniture, or decoration, but it 



LONGINGS FOR THE HEAVENLY HOME 179 

is the loved ones there. It is the pres- 
ence of father, mother, sisters and 
brothers. We all have friends and lov- 
ed ones who have fallen asleep in Jesus 
and are now in Heaven. How true the 
hymn: 

" Many dear to my heart over there, 
Are watching and waiting for me." 
Our children who died in the coven- 
ant and in Christ will be there. They 
have only withdrawn from the world of 
sin, sorrow, suffering and death, and 
gone to live in the summer land of Hea- 
ven. Has the Lord taken a child from 
your arms or from your bosom, think of 
your child with Jesus who when on 
earth said, "Suffer little children, and 
forbid them not, to come unto me ; for 
of such is the kingdom of heaven." 
Math. 19:14. 

Man's temporal home is the dearest 
place on earth. When weary, hungry, 
chilly, absent, or in danger, you think 
of home. Your home, however hum- 



180 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

ble, is a sacred place. To be destitute 
of an earthly home is a great misfortune. 
Our earthly home ministers principally 
to the body. It cannot meet the wants 
of the soul. Man needs a spiritual 
home where all the necessities of the 
soul will be met, and that home is 
Heaven. 

How we have longed to see Jesus and 
be with Him. We have wished that we 
might like John, recline on that bosom 
of love, so pure and strong. The happy 
day will come, and it may not be far 
distant when we shall be with Jesus in 
glory. 

The supreme desire of my heart is to 
be like Jesus, and then I shall by and 
by be with him in glory. It was this de- 
sire and hope that inspired Paul to say, 
"For our conversation is in Heaven ; 
from whence also we look for the Sav- 
ior, the Lord Jesus Christ : Who shall 
change our vile body, that it may be 
fashioned like unto his glorious body." 






LONGINGS FOR THE HEAVENLY HOME 181 

Phil. 3:20,21. John says, " Beloved, 
now are we the sons of God, and it doth 
not yet appear what we shall be : but 
we know that when he shall appear, we 
shall see him as he is." 1 J. 3:2. It 
was this hope that inspired the Psalmist 
to say, "Whom have I in heaven but 
thee? and there is none upon earth that 
I desire besides thee." Ps. 73:25. Is 
it any wonder that the christian becomes 
homesick for heaven? 



CHAPTER XX. 

THE CROSSING OF THE JORDAN 

Canaan was separated from the Wil- 
derness by the river Jordan. This river 
the children of Israel were obliged to 
cross in order to take possession of their 
Promised Land. In the 4th chapter 
of Joshua we have an account of the 
passage of the Israelites over Jordan. 
So the river of death intervenes this 
world and the Heavenly Canaan. The 
Israelites crossed the Jordan at once in 
a body, but we cross the river of Death 
continuously, one by one. The crossing 
began with Abel and will be continued 
to the end of time. 

" Death like a narrow sea, divides 
This heavenly land from ours." 

It was at evening that Christ said on 
one occasion to his disciples, "Let us 



THE CROSSING OF THE JORDAN 183 

pass over to the other side." Mark 4:35. 
So as the sun of our earthly life is set- 
ting, Christ opens to our spiritual vision 
the Heavenly Canaan and says, "Let 
us pass over." 

The passage of the disciples over the 
sea was rough and threatening, yet it was 
made safe and easy by the presence of 
Christ. Thus while death is fearful to 
the ungodly, it is joyous and pleasant to 
the christian. The Master says, "Lo, 
lam with you alway. " Math. 28:20. 
The dying christian can sing: 

" Death cannot make our souls afraid, 
If God be with us there ; 
We may walk through its darkest shade, 
And never yield to fear." 

Be sure to have an interest in the 
precious blood of Christ. In his right- 
eousness, you can meet death with joy. 
It is only when death comes and we are 
not prepared to meet him, that his 
strokes are heavy. 



184 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

The removal of a christian from this 
world is his advantage. While on earth 
he is separated from his true inherit- 
ance and his eternal glory. Paul says, 
" To live is Christ, but to die is gain. " 
Phil. 1: 21. David: "Mark the per- 
fect man and behold the upright ; for 
the end of that man is peace." Ps. 
37: 37. To such an abundant entrance 
into the everlasting kingdom is adminis- 
tered. 2 Pet. 1:11. God said to Abra- 
ham, "And thou shalt go to thy fathers 
in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good 
old age." Gen. 15:15. 

In ancient times it was regarded a 
great misfortune not to be buried with 
one's kin. Jacob made the request that 
he should not be buried in Egypt, but 
with his fathers in their burying ground. 
Gen. 47 :30. Joseph took an oath of 
his children, that they should carry his 
bones hence. Gen. 50:25. How affect- 
ing is the request of Barzillia to his king: 
"lam this day fourscore years old, Let 



THE CROSSING OF THE JORDAN 185 

thy servant, I pray thee, turn back 
again that I may die in mine own city 
and be buried by the grave of my father 
and of my mother." 2 Sam. 19 : 35-37. 
If God's people be our people then 
death will gather us unto them. 

Good men die willingly. They are 
not fetched, or forced, but go. Once a 
minister was in the act of preaching. 
The angel of the Lord seemed to lay his 
hand on his shoulder and whispered, 
" The Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to 
meet him." He dropped down where 
he stood, and in a half hour was with 
the Lord. The last word on his lips 
was, "Jesus. " He believed in the cer- 
tainty of his coming and was ready. 
The time of his coming is uncertain. 
Hence we are exhorted, "Watch there- 
fore ; for ye know neither the day nor 
the hour wherein the Son of man 
cometh." Math. 25:13. Paul exclaim- 
ed: " For I am now ready to be offered, 
and the time of my departure is at 



186 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

hand." 2 Tim 4:6. May we all be 
ready and waiting for the Master's call 
to come up higher. Paul knew and felt 
that he was converted and accepted of 
God. "I know whom I have believed, 
and am persuaded that he is able to 
keep that which I have committed unto 
him against that day, " 2 Tim. 1 ; 12. 

The righteous have a safe passage to 
the next world. It is true, they must 
pass through the valley of the shadow 
of death, but it will be a valley of hope 
to them. Angels compassed around 
them in life, and in death they will not 
forsake them. Lazarus was carried by 
angels into Abraham's bosom. When 
friends in mournful mood, stand by the 
saint's death bed, waiting to see him 
draw his last breath, angels wait for his 
soul. By inspiration the Prophet gave 
the righteous this assurance, "When 
thou passeth through the waters, I will 
be with thee ; and through the rivers, 
they shall not overflow thee; when thou 



THE CROSSING OF THE JORDAN 187 

walkest through the fire, thou shalt not 
be burned ; neither shall the flame kin- 
dle upon thee." Is. 43 : 2. 

Death can do the righteous no harm. 
Though it separates the soul from the 
body, it cannot separate either of these 
from the Lord Jesus Christ. The body 
is a member of Christ though it is in 
the grave. Its dust is precious to Christ. 
Fruit laid away in the earth mellows for 
winter. So the body is mellowed for 
the day of resurrection. 

The farmer has corn in the barn and 
in the soil. The latter is more precious 
because he expects a crop from it. So 
the dead bodies of saints are more prec- 
ious than those of the living because 
of the prospects of the resurrection. 
" It is sown in corruption, it is raised in 
incorruption ; It is sown in dishonor, it 
is raised in glory; it is sown in weak- 
ness, it is raised in power; it is sown a 
natural body, it is raised a spiritual 
body. 1 Cor. 15:42-44. 



188 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

Death cannot hurt the soul. "Then 
shall the dust return to the earth as it 
was, and the spirit shall return unto 
God who gave it." Ecc. 12:7. It is 
with the soul as it was with Paul and his 
companions in the sea voyage. The 
ship was broken to pieces but they were 
saved. Stephen was stoned to death, 
and yet he fell asleep. Acts 7:60. No 
lion shall be there, nor any ravenous 
beast ; only the shadow of death. 

It is true that, "it is appointed unto 
men once to die, but after this the 
judgment." Heb. 9:27. But in the 
case of the godly their judge is their 
friend. "The father judgeth no man 
but hath committed all judgment unto 
the son." J. 5:22. This friend is their 
Advocate. "We have an advocate 
with the Father, Jesus Christ the right- 
eous." 1 J. 2:1. 

The godly at death are in a happy 
and hopeful state. They have a good 
friend in the world to which they are 



THF CROSSING OF THE JORDAN 189 

going. The lord of that land is Jesus 
Christ their best friend. 

When Jacob saw the wagons which 
Joseph had sent to carry him to Egypt, 
his spirit revived, and he resolved to un- 
dertake the journey. Gen. 45:9-27. 
When God calls a good man out of this 
world, he sends just such glad tidings 
and kind invitations. And his spirit re- 
vives when he sees the chariot of death. 
He is willing to go. 

The righteous shall have a joyful en- 
trance into the other world. The dying 
day of the christian is a day of redemp- 
tion. It is a time when captives are de- 
livered and prisoners are set free when 
pilgrims come in from their pilgrimage, 
and when heirs possess their glorious in- 
heritance. 

At death the warfare is over and the 
race is finished. Then the sheaf is ripe, 
the likeness is complete, and the proba- 
tion is ended. 



190 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

The soul then enters into a state of 
perfect holiness, intelligence and bliss. 
The soul is then absolved from sin, sor- 
row and danger. And it is present with 
the Lord in the realm of purity, glory 
and joy. 

David says, " The Lord will strengthen 
him upon the bed of languishing: thou 
wilt make all his bed in his sickness." 
Ps. 41:3. God often takes down the 
earthly tabernacle gradually. He mel- 
lows the atmosphere of the dying hour, 
and makes it radiant with heavenly light. 
He gives the dying saint a rich experi- 
ence in fellowship and communion with 
him. He breaks away the dark cloud 
of death and restrains Satan in his 
attacks. He invigorates the graces of 
the dying saint, gives him glimpses of 
heavenly glory, and gives him drafts 
from the fountain head of bliss. He 
thus gives the saint dying grace. 

11 Precious in the sight of the Lord is 
the death of his saints." Ps. 116:15. 



THE CROSSING OF THE JORDAN 191 

The death of saints is under the gracious 
control of the Lord. The time, place 
and manner of his death are all under 
His supervision. 

Those who by a true faith have ac- 
cepted Christ as their Savior are pre- 
pared to die in peace. We cannot die 
the death of the righteous if we are 
wicked, impenitent, mere moralists, or 
only professors of righteousness, and not 
possessors of it. 

Paul felt that he had done the work 
which the Lord gave him to do. He 
had been Christ's servant and Christ 
had used him for his own will and pur- 
pose. He anticipated a crown. The 
cross is the way to the crown. " If we 
suffer, we shall also reign with him." 
2 Tim. 2; 12. The crown is one of 
righteousness. It is given by virtue of 
the righteous life of Christ. It is the 
purchase of his blood. 



192 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

It is not an earthly crown, nor a 
crown of olives, or laurels, but a crown 
of righteousness which becomes the 
saints of glory. 

Paul expected Christ to bestow this 
crown. "Henceforth there is laid up 
for me a crown of righteousness, which 
the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give 
me at that day : and not to me only, but 
unto all them also that love his appear- 
ing." 2 Tim. 4:8. Paul knew all this, 
believed it, and hoped for it. 

With the true christian, to die is gain, 
immediate and eternal gain. "Blessed 
are the dead which die in the Lord from 
henceforth ; yea, saith the Spirit, that 
they may rest from their labors ; and 
their works do follow them." Rev. 
14:13. 

At death Christ receives the right- 
eous unto himself. Death is the gate of 
life, the vestibule of glory. At death 
Mrs. Clarkson exclaimed, "Oh those 
rays of glory ! " Lady Alice Lucy ex- 



THE CROSSING OF THE JORDAN 193 

claimed, "My God, I come flying to 
thee. " Lady Huntington said ; " I shall 
go to my father this night." 

How different is the death of an infi- 
del. He exclaims, "lam about to take 
a leap into the dark. ' ' The christian says, 
"To be absent from the body, is to be 
present with the Lord," 

A life misspent means a soul neglected 
and lost. A life well spent means the 
work finished, and the rewards of eter- 
nity in sight. Are you ready to take 
your departure? 

It is true, saints do not all die in one 
and the same manner. There is a diver- 
sity in their death as well as in the death 
of sinners. But the case of the dying 
saint is always hopeful. 

Some die triumphantly as Paul: "For 
I am now ready to be offered, and the time 
of my departure is at hand. I have 
fought a good fight, I have finished my 
course, I have kept the faith. Hence- 



194 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

forth there is laid up for me a crown of 
righteousness." 2 Tim. 1:6-8. 

Others have a taste of the joys of heav- 
en while here on earth, and begin the 
song of Zion while yet in a strange land. 

Others die in solid dependence on 
their Lord Jesus Christ. They firmly 
believe that the Lord is their God. 

While not a few like dying Jacob of 
old can exclaim, "I have waited for thy 
salvation, O Lord." Gen. 49 ;18. 

Death will remove you from your 
friends on earth to your friends in Heav- 
en. There your earthly friends will join 
you if they are true christians. 

Death takes you from the temple be- 
low to the temple above, from the stream 
to the fountain. 

Life is the day of espousal, death is 
the wedding day. Death puts out the 
candle of your mortality, and ushers 
you into the eternal day where no night 
shall be. 



THE CROSSING OF THE JORDAN 195 

Saints often die in ecstasy. They have 
an abundant entrance ministered unto 
them into the everlasting kingdom of 
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Pet. 
1:11. 

Thus did Stephen die with the vision 
of glory before his eyes, "Lord Jesus 
receive my spirit." Acts 7 :59. 

In prospect of death Paul could tri- 
umphantly say, "I have fought a good 
fight, I have finished my course, I have 
kept the faith ; Henceforth there is laid 
up for me a crown of righteousness, 
which the Lord, the righteous judge, 
shall give me at that day ; and not to 
me only, but unto all them also that love 
his appearing." 2 Tim. 4:7, 8. 

The good Parson said, "The battle is 
fought — the battle is fought, forever. " 

Mrs. Talbot of Reading, " Oh ! sweet, 
sweet dying. " 

Mrs. Manchester who died lately at 
Pittsburg at the age of 105 years, said, 



1% THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

"I was afraid that God had forgotten 
me. He has kept me in this world of 
sorrow so long." 

Lady Glenarchy, "If this is dying, it 
is the pleasantest thing imaginable." 

At death the righteous enter upon the 
life of immortality and ascend to their 
Lord and Savior. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

THE BODY AND SOUL AT REST 

11 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in 
peace, thou shalt be buried in a good 
old age." Gen. IS: IS. We all desire to 
be at peace with our fellowmen, our 
conscience and our God." "Being 
justified by faith, we have peace with 
God through our Lord Jesus Christ." 
Rom. S ; 1. * 'There remaineth therefore 
a rest to the people of God." Heb. 4:9. 

When you are prospecting for a home 
in another locality or town, you ask this 
question, " Is it a healthy place?" So we 
look forward to Heaven as our future 
home and we ask, "What are the sani- 
tary conditions of that celestial city?" 
The answer is, "And God shall wipe 
away all tears from their eyes; and there 
shall be no more death, neither sorrow, 



198 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

nor crying, neither shall there be any 
more pain : for the former things are 
passed away."/?^y. 21:4. 

There will be no pain of disappoint- 
ment in Heaven. When you began life 
you anticipated much, but how little of 
what you anticipated did you realize. In 
Heaven there will be no pain of weari- 
ness. It may be hours since you quit 
work, but you do not feel rested. Your 
ankles ache, your spirit flags, and you 
want rest. In Heaven there will be no 
more stooping until the back aches. No 
more calculating until the brain is be- 
wildered. 

There will be no more carpentering, 
for the mansions are all built. No more 
masoning, for the walls are all ready. 
No more agriculture, for the harvests 
are spontaneous. No more weari- 
some toil, pain or sickness. 

In this world you have had many 
domestic disappointments. But in heav- 
en there will be no such disappointments. 



THE BODY AND SOUL AT REST 199 

No blasted hopes. There all things will 
be better than you anticipated. The 
robes will be richer, the crowns brighter, 
the temple grander, and the throng 
mightier. 

Heaven is a place of perpetual rest. 
1 ' There the wicked cease from troubling; 
and there the weary be at rest." Job 
3:17. It is a place of perpetual joy. 
"In thy presence is fullness of joy." 
Ps. 16:11. 

Have you a weak and frail body? 
Think of your glorified body. "When 
this corruption shall put on incorrup- 
tion." Are you weary? think of the 
saint's everlasting rest. Are you sick? 
think of the saint's health. Are you 
poor? think of the saint's riches. Are 
you homeless? think of your heavenly 
home. Are you lonely? think of the 
companion of saints. Have you sorrow ? 
think of your heavenly joys. " For our 
light affliction, which is but for a mo- 



200 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

ment, worketh for us a far more exceed- 
ing and eternal weight of glory." 2 
Cor. 4:17. 

Do you stagger at God's mysterious 
Providence? look above. Mr. Astor in 
fording a river on horseback, became 
dizzy. The remedy was to look up, 
and not down to the passing water. 
Are you in imminent danger? Close 
your eyes and by faith look to God. 
And in the hour of death, close your 
eyes and trust your Savior. 

In Heaven there will be no more pov- 
erty. In the next world all of Christ's 
poor will not be at disadvantage as in 
this world. In heaven there will be no 
occasion for alms houses for they will 
all be princes. No rents to pay and no 
garments to buy. In Heaven there will 
be no hovels to live in, no hard crusts 
to eat and no insufficient apparel to 
wear. "They shall hunger no more, 
neither thirst any more." Rev. 7:16. 



THE BODY AND SOUL AT REST 201 

In Heaven there will be no more part- 
ing. All our earthly associations will 
sometime be broken up. But when you 
once have passed the heavenly portals, 
you are through with such scenes for- 
ever. 

In Heaven there will be no pain of 
body. In this world the human race is 
pierced through and through with sharp 
distress. In Heaven no malaria floats 
in the air, no bruised feet tread the 
streets. Here in this world is a Robert 
Hall who never saw a well day. Edward 
Payson whose body was ever torn by 
disease, and here Richard Baxter passed 
through untold physical torture. 

There will be no spiritual enemies to 
mar one's happiness. 

We enter Heaven immediately after 
death. "To day shalt thou be with me 
in Paradise." Luke 23:43. "We are 
willing rather to be absent from the 
body, and to be present with the Lord. " 



202 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

2 Cor. 5:8. "Lazarus died, and was 
carried by the angels into Abraham's 
bosom." Luke 16 ; 22. 

We do not naturally desire death as 
it is the dissolving of a lovely and beau- 
tiful casket. But the apostle was willing 
to cross over Death's river, because of 
the beautiful land that lies beyond. 

In a kingdom very few of the subjects 
are permitted to enter the palace of the 
king, or see him, much less approach 
his throne. This is reserved for only a 
privileged few. In the Jewish economy, 
none was permitted to enter that part 
of the tabernacle called Holy of Holies, 
except the High Priest, and he once 
only in a year. 

But the innumerable multitude are 
permitted to enter the New Heaven 
and the New Earth, to enter the Holy 
City, the Jerusalem which is above. 
And pluck the fruit from the Tree of 
Life. They are permitted to enter the 
palace of the great King, and stand be- 



THE BODY AND SOUL AT REST 203 

fore the white throne and before the 
Lamb. They are represented as having 
palms in their hands. These are the 
symbols of peace and victory. 

They first bore the cross and now the 
crown. "These are they which came 
out of great tribulation, and have wash- 
ed their robes, and made them white in 
the blood of the Lamb." Rev. 7:14. 
They have thus run with patience the 
race set before them. 

"And they cried with a loud voice 
saying, Salvation to our God which 
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the 
Lamb. And all the angels stood round 
about the throne, saying, Amen: Bless- 
ing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanks- 
giving, and honor and power, and might, 
be unto our God for ever and ever. 
Amen." Rev. 7; 10-12. 

Thus too shall the redeemed and the 
bloodwashed unveil their heads, and 
cast their crowns at the feet of the Great 
Jehovah, and sing his eternal praises. 



204 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

All who die in Christ live with him 
and one another. Where are the Patri- 
archs and Prophets, the Apostles and 
Martyrs, the Church Fathers and Re- 
formers? Where are our godly ances- 
tors? Where are those whom you 
mourn today? That departed father, 
mother, sister and brother; that depart- 
ed husband, wife, child and friend? If 
they died in Christ, they are with him 
in Heaven. 

The redeemed in Heaven embrace 
the souls of those who have died in the 
faith, from righteous Abel to the present. 
Some of these were our friends and kind- 
red. Once they were subject to the in- 
firmities of our human race. They have 
sinned and they have suffered. They 
have sickened and they have died. 

The ties that bound them to us on 
earth, seemed to be broken. And as we 
placed their remains in the grave, we 
seemed to give them a final farewell. 
But they have not perished. They that 



THE BODY AND SOUL AT REST 205 

die in the Lord, and have joined the 
other part of the Church family which 
is in Heaven. 

Yonder in that far off land are their 
glorified spirits. John saw a great mul- 
titude of all nations, kindred, people 
and tongue. Rev. 7:9. 

This is the happy conditions of those 
that are in Heaven. Who of us have 
not contributed to the company of glori- 
fied spirits in Heaven. Have you given 
up an aged father or mother ? Think 
where he or she is. Have you given up 
a husband, a wife, or a darling child? 
Think where the absent one is. Many 
a Rachael is weeping because her child 
is not. These precious spirits are in 
Heaven, ripe for immortality. 

What a happy meeting place Heaven 
will be, between husband and wife, 
brother and sister, parents and children 
and between friend and friend. 

On earth families are sometimes bro- 
ken up by removals and death. But in 



206 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

Heaven families will have no such dis- 
turbance or separation. 

There we shall be joined with Abra- 
ham, Isaac and Jacob, with Moses and 
David, with Peter, John and Paul. 
There we shall be joined with our dear 
redeemed kindred, and above all with 
our elder brother Jesus Christ. " And 
I say unto you, That many shall come 
from the east and west, and shall sit 
down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob 
in the kingdom of Heaven." Math. 
8:11. 

Heaven will be a place of reunions. 
Many who sleep in the old village church 
burying yard, will be there. Many who 
recline among the fountains and sculp- 
ture of the city cemeteries will be there. 
Many who perished in battle or went 
down into the deep will be there. "And 
I heard a voice from Heaven saying 
unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead 
which die in the Lord from henceforth ; 



THE BODY AND SOUL AT REST 207 

yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest 
from their labors; and their works do 
follow them." Rev. 14:13. 

The grave yard is a resting place to 
the Saints — a cemetery — a sleeping 
chamber — God's acre. We may see 
written on every grave stone: "The 
hour is coming, in the which all that are 
in the graves shall hear his voice, And 
shall come forth ; they that have done 
good, unto the resurrection of life; and 
they that have done evil, unto the resur- 
rection of damnation." J. 5:28,29. For 
the comfort of every believer Jesus says, 
" I am the resurrection and the life : he 
that believeth in me, though he were 
dead, yet shall he live." J. 11:25. 

The grave is not a strange house. 
Many of our friends are there. Perhaps 
a father, a mother, a sister, a brother, 
or a child is there. Their ashes are 
peacefully slumbering there. The Lord 
perfumed the grave by his own presence, 
and gave it a holy consecration. 



208 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

Death brings us to our eternal reward, 
1 ' For to me to live is Christ, and to die is 
gain." Phil. 1:21. " Then shall the 
King say unto them on his right hand, 
Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit 
the kingdom prepared for you from the 
foundation of the world. " Math. 25 :34. 

The most sacred and solemn thing 
that we are called upon to witness in 
this world is a deathbed scene. We tend- 
erly watch over the departing one. The 
pulse grows feebler and the breathing 
becomes laborious. At last he ceases 
to breathe. The gate of death opens and 
he departs out of this life. We in al- 
most breathless silence whisper, " He's 
gone." This is the physical side of dy- 
ing, but it has another side which indi- 
cates the spirit in which one departs out 
of this life. We will consider a few in- 
cidents : The mother of John Wesley 
said, " Children when I am gone, sing a 
song of praise to God." She felt that 
in her death she would enter into perfect 



THE BODY AND SOUL AT REST 209 

rest and bliss which would be an occa- 
sion of gratitude and praise to God. 

Cecil said to his dying mother, 
''Mother are you not afraid to die?" 
She replied, "No," "Why not?" 
Her reply was, " Because God has said, 
"Fear not, When thou passeth through 
the waters I will be with thee; and through 
the rivers, they shall not overflow 
thee." Is. 3:2. 

How true the hymn : 

"Death cannot make our souls afraid, 
If God be with us there; 
We may walk through its darkest shade, 
And never yield to fear." 

Robert Bolton longing for his depar- 
ture exclaimed, "Oh, when will this 
good hour come." 

When John Brown of Haddington, 
was laid low in sickness, he was heard 
to utter these words, "God is an un- 
changing Rock." It is when things 
change around us that we can best judge 



210 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

whether we actually have faith in an un- 
changing God. 

Mrs, Elizabeth Stoker a parishioner 
of the writer who died at the age of 81 
years, said, " I feel that my faith is very 
strong and that I stand upon a Rock." 
She was a woman who was faithful to 
her religious duties and developed a 
strong christian character and faith. 
Such die in a state of gracious security. 

Well may we exclaim, "Let me die 
the death of the righteous and let my 
last end be like his." Num. 23 :10. 

Many like Job exclaim, " All the days 
of my appointed time will I wait, till my 
change come," Job 14:14. Waiting 
implies a preparation. You can best 
wait for company when you are prepar- 
ed to receive it. So the christian can 
best wait for death when he is prepared 
for it. A holy life is the best prepara- 
tion we can make. 

When John Quincy Adams was 80 

years old he was met on a street in 



THE BODY AND SOUL AT REST 211 

Boston by an old friend who thus 
addressed him: "Good morning, 
and how is John Quincy Adams 
today? " The Ex-President replied : 
"Thank you, John Quincy Adams 
himself is well, sir, quite well. But 
the house in which he lives at pre- 
sent is becoming dilapidated. It is 
tottering upon its foundation. Time 
and the seasons have nearly des- 
troyed it. And I think John Quincy 
Adams will have to move out of it 
soon. " Then he moved on with 
the aid of his staff. It was not long 
afterward that he had his second 
and fatal stroke of paralysis. His 
last words were, "This is the last 
of earth, I am content. " With 
calm resignation he awaited the dissolv- 
ing of his earthly house, and with a firm 
faith he looked for a house not made 
with hands, eternal in the heaven. 

During the final sickness of Ex-Presi- 
dent Hayes, he said to the old family 



212 THE AGED LIVE IN THE FUTURE 

physician, " I know that I shall now see 
Lucy." referring to his wife. This 
meeting of our loved ones in the next 
world is the fondest hope of the christ- 
ian. 

"Let saints below in concert sing 

With those to glory gone; 

For all the servants of our King 

In earth and heaven are one. 

One family— we dwell in him— 

One church above, beneath, 

Though now divided by the stream, 

The narrow stream of death. 

E'en now, by faith, we join our hands 

With those that went before, 

And greet the ransomed, blessed bands, 

Upon the eternal shore." 
FINIS 



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